The Power of Connection Through Nature with Anya Molyviatis

At Nasdaq, we believe in the power of rewriting tomorrow and recognize that art is a powerful medium to conceptualize this vision. 

The Nasdaq Artist Initiative engaged creators around the world, asking artists to create submissions that represent Nasdaq and the future of technology and human advancement to introduce as permanent installations at Nasdaq headquarters in Times Square. We spoke with Anya Molyviatis, who studied at Savannah College of Art and Design, to learn more about “Dawn, Mist and Haze.” 

Could you please tell us about your art piece, its name and what it represents?

Dawn, Mist, and Haze are artworks from my Stitch Series, an ongoing body of work that uses color to communicate and draw attention to the sensorial experience of a single moment. Each piece is hand-painted with Japanese inks and embellished by hand with my stitch pattern using gel pens. The result of this technique is that it captures the formless depths of color through structure in order to engage our own personal layers and dimensions of being.

What themes do you explore through your artwork overall?

Influenced by concepts developed in the light and space art movement and design principles from permaculture, my work focuses on revealing the strengths within our senses through an engagement of the environments we are intimately a part of. I explore themes of climate crisis, color theory, sensorial engagement, and being in the world.

At my core, I am a weaver. My artistic practice operates at the intersections of fine art, design, and fibers in order to open art and design into broad fields of exploration. As we enter an exciting era in textile innovation, my aspirations lie in creating environments that reimagine what is possible for living.  

How do your experiences help shape the themes you choose to portray?

Born in Geneva, Switzerland, I have spent my life traversing urban and wild landscapes throughout Europe and North America. I believe that many of the issues facing the world today are rooted in our disconnect and constructed separation from nature, and that explorations of intersections between these two spaces can reveal the undiscovered strengths that we have. The role nature plays in our life is instrumental; by deepening our relationship with it, we will discover untapped potentials for the future of humanity and the natural world. As I begin my career with determination, I pour my artistic focus and energy into shedding light on what is possible in our world.

Why did you choose these colors and mediums to present your piece?

Color is the primary exploration in my work. I choose my materials based on their ability to exemplify the power that color can have in our environments. Using color gradients found in the natural world, my artworks seek to create a window that provides a vista of meditation where humanity can dive deeper into the collectively undiscovered self. 

What does it mean to have your artwork in Times Square?

 It is an honor to be recognized by an organization that consistently showcases the power and innovation of humanity. I’ve grown up listening and watching Nasdaq change the world. Their support has been a personally moving experience. I am also excited about the possibility of individuals in Times Square encountering my work and perhaps pausing for a moment to consider its colors, their surroundings, and their senses as they take in the work.

The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.