Hi, hi! I’m excited (and many other emotions) to share that I have a new book coming out soon! The title is Women’s Work and it celebrates 33 modern and contemporary women artists and 1 collective who have worked in textiles and ceramics. You’ll see chapters on artists you may know—like Louise Bourgeois, Annie Albers, Judith Scott, and Judy Chicago—but I’m hoping you’ll discover new stories as well.
I’m honored and grateful that I was able to interview many of the living artists featured in the book, including Tschabalala Self, Billie Zangewa, Dindga McCannon, Otobong Nkanga, Mary Margaret Pettway, Polly Apfelbaum, Hannah Hill, Alexandra Kehayoglou, and Sarah Zapata. I would also like to shout out the talented Jessie Cutts, whose quilt is featured on the front cover.
Here’s a little blurb on the book:
A celebration of the innovative, brilliant artists reclaiming the idea of ‘women’s work’.
In the history of western art, decorative and applied arts – including textiles and ceramics – have been separated from the ‘high arts’ of painting and sculpture and deemed to be more suitable for women. Artists began to reclaim and redefine these materials and methods, energizing them with expressions of identity and imagination. Women’s Work tells the story of this radical change, highlighting some of the modern and contemporary artists who dared to defy this hierarchy and who, through, experimentation and invention, transformed their medium. The work of these women has helped underscore the ongoing value of these art forms within the history of art, championing ‘women’s work’ as powerful mediums worthy of celebration.
My Quilts (and a Giveaway)
While I was writing Women’s Work, I was inspired to learn how to quilt. So many of the artists featured in the book first connected with their medium through the women in their families and it made me reflect on my own grandmothers, who sewed clothing and quilts for their children. It was special for me to tap into that experience as I was writing and my new love of quilting has been an unexpected gift.
I wanted to do something fun while I wait for the official publication date of Women’s Work in June, so I decided to do a quilt giveaway to one person who pre-orders the book. If you send proof of your pre-order to womensworkquilt@gmail.com, I’ll put your name in the hat to win the blue and pink quilt above (that’s the front and back). I’ll randomly draw a name on publication day. (The competition is only available to UK residents for boring legal reasons—sorry!)
One last thing… I am currently working on a quilt to sell in the style of that checkered design above. If you’re interested, please watch my Instagram page to see when it’s finished and available.
Finally, if you would like to see me speak a little about my quilts and Women’s Work, I’ll be joining an online panel discussion alongside some amazing quilters in April. Come along—it’s free!