Azania Tripp

Azania (she/her) has been creating one-of-a-kind jewelry for seven years, driven by the desire to craft earrings that are lightweight, hypoallergenic, and uniquely tailored to each individual.

In 2016, she founded Obsidian Pause Wearable Paper Art. A Black/Singaporean Eurasian woman born in St. Cloud, Minnesota, Azania uses collage as a tool for managing ADHD/ADD, depression, and anxiety. As a Licensed Graduate Social Worker (LGSW) with years of experience working with families, youth, and students in higher education, she finds fulfillment in leading workshops where participants can create their own self-reflective wearable paper art.

Azania’s work has gained significant recognition. She is the recipient of the 2023-2024 African American residency at the Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery, where she will have her first solo exhibition. In Summer 2024, her work will also be showcased at the Duluth Art Institute.

She has received numerous awards, including the 2023 Creative Support for Individuals Grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, the 2022 Artist-Driven Marketing Grant from Arts, Culture & the Creative Economy, the 2022 Growth Fund Pilot program from Springboard for the Arts, the 2022/2021 Spark Leadership Grant from the Coalition of Asian American Leaders, and the 2021 Creative Support Grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. In 2019, she also received an Individual Arts Grant from the Central Minnesota Arts Board.