What does it mean to grow a family and an art practice at the same time? This conversation is a reflection on the evolving relationship between creativity and caregiving–on the slow, transformative work of becoming, through birth, art, and everything in between.
To mark this Mother’s Day, I wanted to photograph and interview my sister, Eda Levenson, in her home to capture where she is at this moment in time. The photos were taken during her final weeks of pregnancy, while the interview reflects her experience just after welcoming her second child. I’ve had the immense privilege of closely witnessing–and participating–in her journey as the mother of a toddler and a newborn: the indescribable joy, the challenges, and the power of navigating motherhood and her artistry with intention.
Q&A WITH EDA LEVENSON
Q: Who are you?
A: I'm your sister! I’m also an educator and artist living in Brooklyn, and a mom of two. Professionally, I’ve been dedicated to supporting young artists of color in establishing their creative skills and career paths. Alongside this, I've always been a visual artist. For over a decade, I was a nail artist (shout out Lady Fancy Nails), and in the last five years, I've been increasingly gravitating toward textile art, exploring natural and synthetic dyeing, Japanese indigo and resist techniques, sewing, embroidery, and more.
Q: Happy Mother’s Day! So what’s it been like?
A: The most wild, beautiful, intense, life-altering experience ever. This shit is super hard and it’s hella amazing! Over the past four years, my mind and body have undergone profound transformations–biologically, structurally, and emotionally. It’s taken time to adjust, to let go of past versions of myself, and to understand and care for the person I’m becoming. Motherhood shifts everything: your relationships, your work, your sense of self. It’s a deep, radical process of shedding and rebuilding, where you’re left with the essential parts of who you are. The task then becomes nurturing that core self and carrying it forward into the next phase of life.
You know, that’s all. :)
Q: How has your artistic journey been influenced by motherhood?
A: It’s a perpetually evolving relationship. Parenting has really taught me to be present and reassess the value of linear productivity. It's reoriented me toward embracing flexibility and patience, qualities that are essential to parenting daily. I'm consciously bringing this same energy to my art practice, guided by the mantra: Be slow. Focus on learning. Not everything needs to be immediately monetized.
When you're meeting the core needs of young children, time can feel like a constraint. I’m still learning to navigate the feeling of not being productive enough or not progressing quickly enough in my craft–something I’ve been accustomed to. Sometimes it means accepting that you won’t be as focused or productive as you’d like, and that’s okay. It’s a balancing act I’m still figuring out. Change is a constant. I've had to get comfortable with rapid and ongoing change, from my kids’ evolving personalities and abilities to their ever-shifting needs. This has required an acceptance and willingness to grow alongside them. While we’re lucky to have stability that allows us to embrace these transitions, it's still an intense and dynamic process.
I genuinely feel fulfilled and satisfied with my career and what I’ve been building so far. I’m really grateful to be able to devote this specific and critical time to my children and family. My art practice is transforming alongside all of us–more fluid, more integrated, and more reflective of this chapter of life.
Q: You’ve made a creative transition from nail art to textile art. What led you to that?
A: I’ve always identified as a visual artist and have always had a special interest in illustration and design. Ever since I was a kid I enjoyed drawing or painting on my shoes or clothes, and wearable art in general. Textile art has helped me translate a lot of what I did in nail art and apply that to a different format and medium.
I’m also drawn to textile art both because of my artistic interests and because it’s deeply connected to our Japanese cultural identity. Japan has a really rich, vast history with textile art–especially with indigo– and I feel really close to and appreciative of that history and culture. I am really committed to exploring that even further because it expands my relationship to our heritage. I feel a sense of alignment with this practice, it feels very personal to me.
Q: What are you working on lately? What’s inspiring you?
A: In my textile work, I’ve been exploring spiral motifs particularly during my pregnancies and births. The spiral symbolizes rebirth and the cyclical nature of life, and it reminds me that time isn't always linear. I find the act of painting spirals incredibly soothing and meditative because there’s constant movement and it doesn't demand strict precision.
Both of my daughters were born at home with the incredible support of my midwife, Jo and her Nettle Wellness team. Unmedicated homebirths can sometimes be longer than hospital births, requiring a complete surrender to the experience. I remember during my three-day labor with my first daughter, it felt like descending to the bottom of the ocean, moving with the currents while still being connected to the surface, with the certainty of re-emerging safely with my baby.
I experience a similar sensation when I’m working on my textile designs and especially while dyeing. It’s both calming and requires a full presence.
"We grew up with this exact katazome drapery around our house. Our mom met Mayumi Oda in the 90’s and bought this piece from their friend’s Japanese store in San Francisco. I recently rediscovered it tucked away in a box of Mama’s old fabrics. We’ve decided to frame it so it can continue to be a part of our family and home."
Q: How has your art been received by your children?
A: For us, growing up, the "workshop" was a central and cherished space in our family’s home, second only to the kitchen. Both our parents are artisans; our dad crafts traditional Japanese Shakuhachi flutes, and our mother is a talented sewist. We grew up surrounded by their creative work, which was also how they supported our family.
My husband, Kapono, and I are creating a similar environment for our kids. Kapilialoha has been by my side at my sewing table since she was born, and she's naturally developing her own interest in making things. This past year, Kapono even built her a long desk in our apartment–her own dedicated "workshop"--so she has a space to explore her creativity too. There’s no greater reward than witnessing her now wanting to create on her own.
"Kapono painted this piece when I was pregnant with our first daughter. It reminds me of the shape of a pregnant body. We recently hung it above our family bed, which Kapono built for us in anticipation of our baby’s arrival."
Q: What are your favorite AK designs right now?
A: My everyday staples include my bespoke white gold and diamond engagement ring and custom band, which feature three mini flush set stones. I also wear the Mini Block Hoops, adorned with florals fully handcrafted from scrap silver. I love to stack these with my Extra Mini Block Hoops and my ‘K’ and ‘P’ AK Signature ID Pendants, along with a bespoke gold charm bracelet.
When I'm dressing up for something special, I reach for my Breathwork Necklace. I’ve definitely entered my gem era, as both my girls, my husband, and you, my little sister, are all April babies! We're currently working on a custom diamond ring as we celebrate our second April baby. I’m envisioning a bold statement piece that incorporates a fluid, curvy design. I’m so excited to create this piece and eventually pass it down to my girls.
For this shoot, I’m in all yellow gold. I loved the buttery Nadia Blue Zircon Pendant paired with the Ni-gatsu Necklace. On my ears, I’ve stacked the large yellow gold Catharsis Hoops with yellow gold Mini Chain Hoops. And on my hands I’m wearing the Zephyr Ring, Figaro Band, and my union ring stack.
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