Tajah M. Ellis (1997, Brooklyn, NY) is a Belizean-American bio-designer whose craft embodies intuitive chemistry, organic mapping and biological emergence through fiber installation, material sculpture and garment construction.

:: FOUNDATION

My understanding of the world is shaped as a first generation native of Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, by way of Belize, Central America. The eldest of an Afro-Indigenous matriarch, my natural aptitude for expression carried me through an array of avenues to indulge, especially writing. I pursued this path toward a Bachelors of Science in Journalism and Media Studies from Brooklyn College in 2021. My real breakthrough came when I leaned into my passions, self-taught through apprenticeship.

SELECTED EDUCATION

2024 Natural Dye Chemistry Course, Maiwa School of Textiles - Toronto, Canada

2023 Bio-Inspired Design, Arts & Humanities Research Council - University of Arts London

2020 B.S Journalism and Media Studies - Brooklyn College

RESIDENCY + INCUBATORS

2025 Haystack Labs x MIT Center for Bits and Atom - Deer Isle, ME

2024 Genspace: Y2 Artist in Residence - Brooklyn, NY

2024 NEST: Makers Future Fund - Remote

2023 NEW INC Y10 Creative Science Incubator Member - NY, NY

2023 TEXTERE: Independent Fiber Arts Residency- Oaxaca, MX

:: FORCE

1) Tājah (ताज):—n. crown worn by rulers; coronet; (ताजा):—adj. 1. fresh; green; current; new

• feminine variant of Arabic name 'Taj', meaning "crown"/"glory." Associated with the Persian word "tāj" meaning "crown"/"royalty". "brilliance" or "radiant." Similar to root to Tajiti, meaning “to keep secret” in Croatian.

My relationship to land deepened once I started growing my own food, flowers and collectively organizing holistic managaement systems. This basis has become the foundation for my creations - the ancient craft of natural dyes, archeological fibers and re-interpreted garments. The intensity and durability of cloth as well as the maneuverability of dyes transformed my relationship to attainable possibilities through analytical observation and magic orientation.

After several incubators, my passion for biology through intepretive technology became a focus. I was trained by artisans whose connection to their reflective inner reality led to dynamic external contribution. As a self taught artist interested in chemical interaction, I've had to create mental bridges to understand, interpret and see myself within these various space.

I started ⤷OUTOFSEAM from 2019-2024, where I collaborated with several artists, scientists, innovators and brands to re/de-constructed garments, facilitate natural dye workshops, do field research, and grow organic material. This process of entrepreneurship, creativity and collaboration was fulfilling, yet led me deeper, guided by internal changes.

:: FORMATION

I synthesize the undercurrent into the apparent, reflecting convergence, divergence + integration. My use of textiles reflects such - discombobulated pieces connected as a synthesized whole. By re/de-constructing patterns to follow an intrinsic flow, I highlight chemical, geographical and cosmological origins. My process mirrors the ubiquitous curiosity of our time, emergence during uncertainty.

:: MOTIVE

I don't come from wealth, a creatively inclined family or access to an ongoing network from institutions. It is incredibly risky socio-economically and geo-politically to lean into my passions and pursue them wholeheardly. It is hard. I have my heart, mind, and drive. This is what I am coming with. I don't say this as a sob story; quiet the contrary. I see these risks as a sacrfice because I believe completely in my passion as a designer, skills in bio-fabrication and service as an educator. By learning the foundations of cutting edge skills through Fabricademy, I will be differenciated mentally and creatively through the development of technical skills with machinery and technology. I plan to anchor these skills by becoming a competitive part of an emerging work force by creating more and teaching others. It is a huge benefit to be immersed in an intensive environment with like-minded enthusiasts who are at various junctures. I plan to hone these skills in order to connect opportunities for others who come from similar conditions. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⢔⣶⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡼⠗⡿⣾⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⡼⠓⡞⢩⣯⡀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣀⣀⣀⣀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠰⡹⠁⢰⠃⣩⣿⡇⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠘⢷⣿⠿⣉⣩⠛⠲⢶⡠⢄⠐⣣⠃⣰⠗⠋⢀⣯⠁⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠙⣯⣠⠬⠦⢤⣀⠈⠓⢽⣾⢔⣡⡴⠞⠻⠙⢳⡄ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠘⣵⣳⠖⠉⠉⢉⣩⣵⣿⣿⣒⢤⣴⠤⠽⣬⡇ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠙⢻⣟⠟⠋⢡⡎⢿⢿⠳⡕⢤⡉⡷⡽⠁ ⣧⢮⢭⠛⢲⣦⣀⠀⠀⠀⠠⡀⠀⠀⠀⡾⣥⣏⣖⡟⠸⢺⠀⠀⠈⠙⠋⠁⠀⠀ ⠈⠻⣶⡛⠲⣄⠀⠙⠢⣀⠀⢇⠀⠀⠀⠘⠿⣯⣮⢦⠶⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⢻⣿⣥⡬⠽⠶⠤⣌⣣⣼⡔⠊⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⢠⣿⣧⣤⡴⢤⡴⣶⣿⣟⢯⡙⠒⠤⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠘⣗⣞⣢⡟⢋⢜⣿⠛⡿⡄⢻⡮⣄⠈⠳⢦⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠈⠻⠮⠴⠵⢋⣇⡇⣷⢳⡀⢱⡈⢋⠛⣄⣹⣲⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⢿⣱⡇⣦⢾⣾⠿⠟⠿⠷⠷⣻⠧⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠙⠻⠽⠞⠊⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀