Sculpture: mixed-media cloth

I treat cloth not as a flat surface but as a wild flexible skin for three-dimensional objects.  My work has developed in tandem with the art quilt movement, but I am one of the few artists exploring the sculptural--as opposed to painterly--qualities of the quilt medium. Making sculpture from fabric presents unique challenges and creative possibilites-and makes me approach sculptural problems with a unique slant.

I use cloth to create an alternate universe, and the resulting work is full of contradictions:  it is whimsical, edgy, mundane, surreal, and engaging, all at once.  Each piece tells a story, but the narrative is always open to interpretation.  The power and beauty of the surface play off the form and content of the work, and the result is a dynamic seesaw of meanings and possibilities.
 
For prices or additional information, send an email to:  susan@susanelse.com

Artist's Statement