Bio

Crystal Renée Drake (they/she) is a queer artist and descendant of the Burt Lake Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians. Deeply rooted in fibers and textiles, their work has expanded to include zines, photography, installations, and socially engaged projects that encourage reflection and empowerment. By engaging in processes that emphasize play and wonder, Drake explores how imagination invites us to embrace possibilities. Through techniques like folding, stitching, and layering, they collaborate with materials to blur the lines between everyday life and make-believe. Their creations serve as an invitation to trust our imaginations and embrace moments of curiosity.

Drake received a Master of Arts in Art Therapy from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) in 2018 and is currently enrolled in the low-residency MFA program at the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA), where they are deepening their studio practice. They are the current artist-in-residence at Center for Native Futures through June 2026. They also work as an art therapist in hospitals, schools, and community settings throughout Chicago, offering relational, art based practices that provide care and amplify voices of the 2SLGBTQIA+, BIPOC, and disability communities.