---
title: Nkengi Freeman
description: Visual artist, fashion designer, and educator dedicated to creativity, empowerment, and impact.
url: https://www.artsume.com/a/nkengi
type: artist
createdAt: "2026-08-04"
updatedAt: "2026-09-06"
disciplines:
  - Sculpture
  - Community Arts
  - Fashion Design
  - Textiles
  - Digital Art
location: Charlotte, NC, United States
birthYear: 1989
---

# Nkengi Freeman

*Visual artist, fashion designer, and educator dedicated to creativity, empowerment, and impact. | Sculpture, Community Arts, Fashion Design, Textiles, Digital Art | Based in Charlotte, NC, United States*

## Artist Statement

My work explores transformation as both a creative process and a human experience. Working across fashion, visual art, installation, and community-centered projects, I use materials, stories, and spaces as tools for reimagining what is possible. I am very interested in the relationship between identity, resilience, memory, and reinvention.

Growing up on Charlotte’s West Side taught me how to find value in what others often overlook. That perspective continues to guide my practice. Through upcycling, material experimentation, and storytelling, I transform discarded, forgotten, or ordinary objects into works that invite reflection and connection. Whether creating garments, immersive environments, or collaborative experiences, I am drawn to the idea that transformation can be
both personal and collective.

Fashion remains an important foundation of my work, but my practice is increasingly expanding beyond the body and into installation, public engagement, and interdisciplinary art. I am interested in creating experiences that blur the boundaries between art, design, education, and
community participation.

As an educator, I view creativity as a powerful tool for empowerment. Community engagement is not separate from my artistic practice—it is central to it. I strive to create work that encourages curiosity, celebrates resourcefulness, and invites people to see themselves and their surroundings in new ways. Through experimentation and collaboration, I seek to create art
that sparks dialogue, fosters connection, and demonstrates the transformative power of creativity

## About

Nkengi Freeman is a Charlotte-based multidisciplinary artist, fashion designer, educator, and creative entrepreneur. Inspired by her upbringing on the city’s West Side and a lifelong connection to the arts, she blends fashion, visual art, and education to create meaningful experiences. As founder of Goldy’s Studio, she champions creativity, sustainability, and storytelling through design, public art, and arts education.

## Curriculum Vitae

### Education

- **2014** - BFA, Fashion Design , The Art Institute of Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, United States

### Positions

- **2023–2024** - Fashion Instructor , McColl Center, Charlotte, NC, United States
  Note from the artist: The Upcycle Fashion Summer Camp introduces students to the world of sustainable fashion through hands-on creativity and design. Using thrifted and repurposed materials, participants transform pre-loved garments into original fashion pieces while learning the fundamentals of the design process—from concept development to construction. This immersive experience encourages creative expression, problem-solving, and environmental awareness through the art of fashion design.

## Portfolio

### Melanin Muse (2026)

Mint to Be: The Feminine Form, held at the Mint Museum in Charlotte, North Carolina. An award-winning design celebrating femininity through fashion, art, and innovation. This piece is part of a series a fashion based around the classic Renaissance art we all know in love reimagined with black bodies. Mixing my love of black culture and art culture..

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### 3D Prom (2026)

A complete prom moment, this vibrant purple beaded lace gown sparkles with custom hand sewn jewels. The look pairs with a suit customized with a rhinestone signature and matching lace hood, giving elegance, individuality, and standout style.

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### EGGXTRA EGGCENTRIC EGGSPRESSION  (2026)

“Eggs on parade“ in Uptown Charlotte at SHOUT! This piece is the epitome of self expression. Mixing all the things I love like the culture, pop, art, and streetwear-not a mini me,THE BIGGEST. Using a fiberglass egg, some spray foam installation and a lots of panty hose can make Magic.

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### The Love Collection | Bridal Robe (2025)

A lesson in modern romance, this custom bridal robe features luxurious white fabrics and hand-crafted rosettes. Delicate yet dramatic, it brings vintage elegance to a contemporary bridal silhouette.

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### The Love Collection | Keepsake  (2025)

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### Mi Amor (2025)

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### Ascension Fall Collection  (2026)

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### ArtPop Upcycle Fashion Show (2024)

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### Mccoll Fashion Summer Camp (2023)