Today we’d like to introduce you to Anna Nazaretz Radjou.
Hi Anna, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I am a mixed media fiber artist and graphic designer based in Arlington, VA.
From as early as I can remember, I’ve had two constants in my life: being an observer of people and making art. I have very early memories of noticing the smallest shifts in people’s facial expressions—signs of discomfort, embarrassment, or unease. At the same time, I was surrounded by creativity. Both of my grandfathers were architects and artists. My father is a musician, and my mother has always done folk dancing. Many of the women in my family did fiber crafts, such as cross-stitch, needlepoint, and crochet. Fiber and tapestry pieces were always around me, living in my subconscious until they finally resurfaced later in my own artistic journey. I’ve also been shaped by living abroad—spending six years in Munich and London—experiences that broadened my perspective and influenced my observations of others and cultures.
My artistic journey hasn’t been linear; it’s branched in many directions. I studied Illustration at Maryland Institute College of Art, and after graduation, I worked as a graphic designer both for companies and through my own business, while beginning to exhibit in various shows in the DMV. I started a family during this time, and my artwork ended up being shelved for nearly a decade. During a particularly difficult period for my family, my need to go back to my art resurfaced. Thankfully, this not only helped me personally, this also led me to become active with several arts organizations, serving as a gallery director, and now with the very fulfilling role as Branding Director for the Arlington Artists Alliance. I’m currently a studio artist at Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, VA, as well as a committee member at the Van Landingham Gallery in the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Like many people, I juggle multiple roles—mother, wife, business partner, graphic design contractor, volunteer, and mentor. Raising two teenagers, and managing day-to-day responsibilities for work, my art often gets pushed to the bottom of the list, and finding balance has been a challenge.
I’m also a natural problem-solver who doesn’t like to walk away from difficult situations, so learning to say “no” doesn’t always come easily. But gradually, I’ve realized that saying no can reduce stress. I have truly started to prioritize myself and make space for my creative practice, which is essential to my well-being.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My fiber artworks are a fusion of illustration, graphic design, and mixed media. My work often contains a balance of happy and wistful nostalgia with quirkiness and stylization—playful on the surface, but layered with deeper meaning underneath. Self-empowerment and therapy is also a thread that runs through what I make. I was very shy growing up, and I think of my art as a way of giving strength and voice to my younger self.
I’ve always been drawn to eye-catching patterns and bright colors. I grew up in a home full of tapestries, painted and carved boxes, and cross-stitched pillows from around the world. I was also a child of the late 70s and 80s, which was definitely a time of bold graphic patterns and colors. There’s something about this aesthetic that continually catches my eye, and I often work these elements into my pieces. I hand-dye, linocut print, or paint with acrylics onto fabric. I will introduce hand-stitched embellishments or, in some cases, fully develop the imagery through embroidery alone.
Though I was mainly raised in the DC area as part of the Russian community, I was only partially Russian, so I never felt that I quite belonged. Not fully belonging to one group has made me more sensitive to those who also feel like outsiders. In many ways, my work also reflects that lifelong feeling of being between worlds. Just a few years ago, I found out that there are questions about how much Russian is actually in my background. That surprising discovery has opened up a new curiosity in me—exploring the cultural threads that make up who I am through the vast array of symbols, patterns, and handicrafts in my family’s cultural background and history. I have always enjoyed combining different media together, but this ongoing question of identity has naturally complemented my working in fiber.
The act of stitching also gives me a sense of calm and focus, almost like therapy. Each stitch brings me closer to finishing an idea or vision, but it also allowed external noise to fade away. In that meditative space, I can breathe, reflect, and even brainstorm new ideas—it becomes both healing and productive at the same time.
I hope the bright colors and patterns are what first draw people in to view my work, but hopefully the discovery that the piece is hand-stitched encourages them to linger. There’s a certain intimacy in realizing that every thread was placed by hand, and that recognition can shift the way a piece is experienced. There’s a chance that the longer someone spends with my work, the more it offers them a pause—an opportunity for reflection and a sense of calm, much like the space I find myself in while creating it.
I explore the organic give and take between our upbringings, our cultures, and our personal experiences, perspectives, and challenges. But, at the heart of my work is a constant exploration of identity, emotional health, and personal empowerment.
What does success mean to you?
I think of success in a more abstract way. For me, it’s not about money or fame, but about living a life filled with curiosity, connection, and fulfillment. If I can continue to make art, surround myself with community, and keep exploring the vignettes of life through my work, that feels like success.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://annaradjou.com
- Instagram: annaradjouart
- Facebook: annaradjou
