Fabricating Aerial Artistry
How can art be hung in mid-air?
Mettje creates lightweight sculptures to suspend in open public spaces, transforming atriums, lobbies, and civic centers into living galleries for kinetic art. The space becomes an environment of color, form and motion.
Each installation is site specific and conceived to integrate into the architecture, the light, the people passing through, and the atmosphere the space deserves—designing artwork that interacts with the room and invites human experience with something unexpected.
At Banner Art Studio, Mettje and her team engineer custom stainless-steel armatures, shaping them into elegant frameworks for the tapestry of the mobile of glowing, light-reactive fabric. As air currents shift, the pieces move and the colors change from bright to muted, coloring the space and animating the atmosphere.
Based in Colorado, Mettje collaborates with designers, architects, and institutions worldwide to create aerial sculptures that balance structural precision to create the movement for the suspended installation that turns public spaces into unforgettable experiences.
About Our Founder
Mettje Swift, the visionary behind Banner Art Studio, is both artist and designer, guiding every project from concept to creation. She begins in Illustrator, developing intricate designs that are carefully transferred by hand into patterns. Each piece is composed of individual elements, cut and sewn along narrow borders to form a vibrant, tactile tapestry.
Once complete, these tapestries can take shape in countless ways—suspended, flowing, and alive in the space they inhabit. For Mettje, each banner is more than art; it is a representation of people’s dreams, stories, and aspirations.
At Banner Art Studio, she has trained generations of banner makers, sharing her craft while ensuring every project carries her hands-on touch. Mettje transforms abstract concepts into tangible, stunning works of art, blending technical expertise with personal vision.
Artist Statement
“I envision my work as jewelry for architectural spaces.”
My sculptures move with the air currents like bright earrings, shifting in color, movement, and tone as sunlight and artificial light pass through them. The translucent fabric catches the light, creating kaleidoscopic effects that transform a space and evoke shifting moods.
Kite-like forms introduce grace and balance. Suspended in motion, they carry a quiet, meditative presence, floating in atriums, lobbies, and public galleries. Each piece is designed for the site—for its architecture, its light, and the people passing through.
I shape, drape, suspend and balance each element with care, harmonizing structure and fabric to create movement. Hand-bent and welded stainless-steel tubing supports the fabric mosaic, giving it a stained-glass quality, illuminating the colors into flowing, luminous forms. Refined 200-denier nylon captures light from every angle, revealing jewel tones that respond uniquely to each space.
Each installation is a conversation between color, motion, and architecture—a kinetic, luminous environment where art floats, dances, and lives in the space itself.
Collective Expertise
Our diverse team of skilled craftspeople brings unique perspectives and talents to each project. Every banner we design and fabricate reflects the stories and lives of everyone involved. Our work blends artistry, craftsmanship, and contemporary art installations with our team’s varied experiences and contributions.
Custom Art
Whether you want to enhance a corporate atrium, public space, or private residence, our team is ready to create a custom piece that elevates your space. Contact us today to start your journey toward a more beautiful and inspiring environment.
