AS A DESIGNER AND ARTIST, XANTHE SPARKMAN APPRECIATES ARTISANAL WORK THAT CHALLENGES SOCIETAL EXPECTATIONS. HER WORK EXPLORES THEMES OF IDENTITY AND IMPERMANENCE THROUGH NATURAL DISTRESS AND DECAY.
XANTHE RECEIVED HER BFA IN FASHION DESIGN WITH A MINOR IN CRAFT AT COLUMBIA COLLEGE CHICAGO IN 2026. HER STUDIES LED HER TO EXPLORE A VARIETY OF FINE ART MEDIUMS, OUTSIDE OF PATTERN MAKING AND GARMENT CONSTRUCTION, INCLUDING PAPER-MAKING, BOOK BINDING, HAND KNITTING AND MORE. HER SENIOR THESIS COLLECTION, 'WHAT REMAINS', EXPLORED MANY OF THESE MEDIUMS, INCLUDING A HAND MADE PAPER DRESS CONSTRUCTED THROUGH THE JAPANESE PAPER - MAKING TECHNIQUE - MOMIGAMI.
'WHAT REMAINS' EXPLORES THEMES OF NATURAL DISTRESSING WHILE PERSONIFYING WORN OBJECTS INTO STORYTELLERS ABOUT THE POTENTIAL LIVES OF AN UNKNOWN TENANT. XANTHE HAS STRONG INTENTIONS ABOUT THE MATERIALS USED AND SOURCES A WIDE RANGE OF TEXTILES AND HARDWARE FROM SECOND HAD SOURCES.
XANTHE ALSO HAS A GARMENT AND ARTIST BOOK DISPLAYED AT AN EXHIBIT FOR THE UNIVERSITY ART BIENNIAL IN PALMA DE MALLORCA.