About Shiloh Levy

Born with a creative bug in Florida, I have been making art as long as I can remember. I was encouraged from a young age to draw and paint, and attended Rollings Middle School of the Arts in South Carolina for three years, focusing on visual arts. I moved to Orange Park in 2003 and attended Orange Park High School. I opted for a different high school journey than most and used my time to test the waters on a variety of educational and creative courses, including my favorite class, TV Production. I also ran my own fan site for an alternative rock band during this era that opened me up to a world outside of my suburban area. I fought for every ounce of creativity, and was a very passionate and curious young person. 

However, life wasn't easy and I first became homeless at 17 years old. I had a rough childhood and had unknowingly developed PTSD. I spiritually fought tooth and nail to educate myself in whatever ways I could and did my best to stay out of trouble. I experienced homelessness on couches, floors, shelters, the street, and my car dotted with periods of tenuous stability. While my family wrote me off or dismissed my struggles, I wanted to understand why the world was the way it was, and how it got to be this way. That journey led me to some interesting and unique places, most notably my time in and out of New York City. Because of my vulnerability and naivety, I ended up in neglectful or abusive relationships. These struggles led me initially to politics, but later to philosophy. By empowering myself with knowledge, leaning into my empathy and compassion, and never truly giving up, I was able to break free from those who refused healing.

My journey wouldn't be complete without mentioning the huge influence of clothing and fashion. I have been thrifting as long as I can recall, and began customizing my own clothing and collecting vintage while still in high school in 2006. I picked up photography shortly thereafter to document my finds and creations. I left Florida in 2011 for New York City, at that time I felt like I had nothing to lose. This decision made my life so much harder in some ways, but it was worth it for everything I learned. I picked up shooting film on Instax in 2012, switching to mainly Polaroid in 2024. I did not have the opportunity to go to college, but did learn via trial by fire throughout my 20s and early 30s. I spent copious amounts of time learning the ins and outs of the vintage industry by flipping clothes from the thrift online and to Beacon's Closet, along with building a modest fashion library. I began taking my art on clothing seriously in 2019 and spent countless days from Fall 2020 through Summer 2023 street vending in Soho and parts of Brooklyn.

After years of running around to survive, I am now settled back in Orange Park with my husband, a cat, and two dogs. I create art almost daily in my private studio and practice a variety of mediums from acrylic painting to block carving and printing to specialty dyeing. I am participating in the Florida Self Directed Care program as part of my healing journey. My work is a reflection of my thoughts on philosophy, especially my studies in feminism, metaphysics, and politics.