The Story of the Emerald School
Emerald School is a nonprofit organization dedicated to exploring alchemy as a living, transdisciplinary practice for contemporary artists, thinkers, and seekers.
Rooted in the belief that matter and spirit are inseparable, alchemy resists easy categorization and opens up space for imaginative, holistic inquiry. Through classes, exhibitions, and community programming, the school explores the interconnectedness of all life, engaging topics such as ecology, herbalism, divination, mysticism, magic, and cross-disciplinary artistic practice.
At Emerald School, alchemy is approached through a queer eco-feminist framework—one that refuses dualistic thinking, embraces complexity, and encourages experimentation. This framework views the world as a sacred, sentient being and invites imaginative engagement with its mysteries. Alchemy is, at its core, the study and practice of transformation, centered on the fundamental principles that drive change. We affirm that change is nature’s way, and celebrate the cosmic power of continuous transformation. In this spirit, the school becomes a crucible: a space where diverse elements converge, disciplinary boundaries blur, and new ways of knowing can take shape.
Founded in 2025 by artist and mystic Eliza Swann (also known as Emerald), the school continues the lineage of the Golden Dome, which Swann established in 2014. Together, these two institutions cultivate a vibrant network of artists, healers, and thinkers committed to visionary, ecological, and mystically-informed creative work.
The Story of Emerald
Eliza Swann, also known as Emerald, is a writer, artist, and scholar based in New York. Swann's formative years cultivated a deep interest in the intertwined studies of mysticism and fine art, which remain central to their work as both artist and educator. Swann received a BA in Painting from the San Francisco Art Institute (2004) and an MFA from Central St. Martins in London (2012). Additionally, Swann is an initiate in Gnostic and Hermetic orders, has studied Vedic cosmology with Dr. Vagsish Shastri, trained in mindfulness meditation at the Insight Meditation Society, and studied herbalism and gardening under the guidance of their witch aunt. These studies inform their expansive approach to esoteric and ecological practices.
Swann teaches art and mysticism as a unified practice and, in 2014, founded Golden Dome, an artist-in-residence program rooted in queer intersectional mysticism. Since its inception, Golden Dome has expanded to offer nationwide exhibitions, residencies, publications, and educational programming. Swann is currently faculty at Pratt Institute, where they teach “The Alchemical Imagination”, a course they created to introduce alchemical concepts to contemporary creative practice. In 2025, Swann transitioned from directing Golden Dome to launch a new initiative: Emerald School, which explores alchemy as a living, transdisciplinary practice.
As a visual artist, Swann has exhibited internationally, most recently at the University of California Santa Cruz and the Feminist Center for Creative Work in Los Angeles. They are the author of The Anatomy of the Aura, Green Mary, and The Alchemical Imagination, and have contributed to numerous publications. Their work has been supported by PEN America, the Foundation for Contemporary Art, the Author’s League Fund, the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, the Pratt Faculty Development Fund, the Feminist Center for Creative Work, the Hemera Fellowship for Contemplative Practice, and the Wassaic Project.
This work is dedicated in loving memory to Christine Swann.
