My fiber artwork celebrates texture, color and the myriad possibilities fiber offers to “paint” an image using fresh and unusual techniques. I use free-motion machine embroidery, bobbin embroidery, needle-felting and silk-painting to create my paintings in fiber. I explore the effects of layering fabrics, threads and yarns in order to create depth, rich color and texture in both my stitched paintings and collages.
When I created my first stitched painting in 1984 (while completing my law degree), I realized that fiber was the ideal medium for me; it blended the skills and sensitivity acquired while obtaining my degree in art with the love for fabric that I had had since I began sewing in junior high school.
I began selling my fiber artwork when I was living in Munich in the mid-1980's. Then, as now, stitching played a primary role in my work and I used the sewing machine as others would use a pencil or paintbrush. While in Munich, I learned the art of silk painting which prompted me to begin experimentation with different weaves of silk. Designing silk collages from layers of colored silk was a natural progression.
When I created my first stitched painting in 1984 (while completing my law degree), I realized that fiber was the ideal medium for me; it blended the skills and sensitivity acquired while obtaining my degree in art with the love for fabric that I had had since I began sewing in junior high school.
I began selling my fiber artwork when I was living in Munich in the mid-1980's. Then, as now, stitching played a primary role in my work and I used the sewing machine as others would use a pencil or paintbrush. While in Munich, I learned the art of silk painting which prompted me to begin experimentation with different weaves of silk. Designing silk collages from layers of colored silk was a natural progression.
One body of my current work combines my interest in gardening and garden imagery with free-motion machine embroidery. My fascination with layers, which originated in my more abstract work, includes layering threads and yarns to create depth, rich color and texture. Movement and flow of color play an important role in my work, as do shadows and reflections.
My most recent work combines needle-felting with free-motion machine embroidery. Landscapes, which are frequently based on places I have been fortunate enough to encounter in my travels, are created from layers of richly colored silk with stitched details.
Abstract images often feature bold patterns, subtle color changes and striking color combinations.
I show and sell my work at national and regional art shows and have exhibited nationally and internationally. In addition, I teach workshops and classes.
My most recent work combines needle-felting with free-motion machine embroidery. Landscapes, which are frequently based on places I have been fortunate enough to encounter in my travels, are created from layers of richly colored silk with stitched details.
Abstract images often feature bold patterns, subtle color changes and striking color combinations.
I show and sell my work at national and regional art shows and have exhibited nationally and internationally. In addition, I teach workshops and classes.
Solo Exhibitions
2019 Paintings in Fiber: Time and Place, Hoffberger Gallery, Baltimore, MD
2008 Paintings in Fiber, Nutting Gallery, West Liberty State College, West Liberty, WV
2005 Creations Gallery, Hockessin, MA
2002 Threads in Bloom, Peninsula Fine Art Center, Newport News, VA
2001 Stitched Impressions, Hodson Gallery, Hood College, Frederick, MD
1997 Contemporary Samplers, G Street Fabrics, Rockville, MD
1996 Layered Letters, Montpelier Cultural Arts Center, Laurel, MD
1986 Landschaften aus der Nähmaschine, Stadtbücherei Sendling in Munich, Germany
Group Exhibitions
2019 Fiber Focus, Columbia Art Center, Columbia, MD
2017 Jewels for Walls and to Wear, Piedmont Craftsmen Gallery, Winston-Salem, NC
2011 Form and Fabric III, Quiet Waters Park Gallery, Annapolis, MD
2011 Fabric of Life, River Gallery, Chattanooga, TN
2009 Little Treasures, Flinn Gallery, Greenwich, CT
2007 Selections from the Fiber Artists Collective, Ohio Craft Museum, Columbus, OH
2007 Fiber Artists Collective Exhibition, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Washington, DC
2007 Holidazzle, Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft, Louisville, KY
2007 Fiber Fever, Jewish Community Center, Baltimore, MD
2006 Art Of The Stitch, Biennial Exhibition, United Kingdom
2005 Fiber Feast, Fiber Art Center, Amherst, MA
2005 A Stitch in Time, Swan Coach House Gallery, Atlanta, GA
2003 Efflorescence, Artspace at John Michael Kohler Art Center, Sheboygan, WI
2003 9-11: Artists Respond, American Craft Museum, New York, NY
2001 Baltimore 25, Baltimore, MD (curated by Paul J. Smith)
2000 Works by Contemporary Maryland Artists, Government House, Annapolis, MD
1998 Werkstoff Stoff, Stadtmuseum Penzberg, Penzberg, Germany
1998 Power Objects in the Here and Now, Government House, Annapolis, MD
1998 Fantastic Fiber, Yeiser Art Center, Paducah, KY
1998 Art in Bloom, Hurlbutt Gallery, Greenwich, CT
1997 Fiberart International '97, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Pittsburgh, PA
1997 Art MD '97, Howard County Center for the Arts, MD
1995 Mansion Art Gallery of Rockville, Rockville, MD
1993 Works in Fibre, Howard Community College Gallery, Columbia, MD
1993 Small Works, Rosenfeld Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
1992 Fiber Arts '92, Creative Arts Guild and BASF Carpet Fibers, Dalton, GA
Selected Commissions
Pew Charitable Trust, Corporate Headquarters
Howard Community College
Temple Emanuel of Baltimore
Musikfest '89, Bethlehem, PA
Selected Awards
2017 Award for Excellence- Craft Alliance Fine Craft Show at Chautauqua, Chautauqua, NY
2016 Award for Excellence in the Fiber Arts-Piedmont Craftsmen's Fair, Winston-Salem, NC
2009, 1996 Award of Excellence- Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, State College, PA
2011, 2008, 2006, 2003 Award of Merit- Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, State College, PA
2009, 2007 First Place Fiber- Bruce Museum Craft Show, Greenwich, CT
2000 Award of Excellence - Honorable Mention, America Craft Council Show (Baltimore)
1999 Maryland State Arts Council Individual Artist Award
2001 Award of Merit; 1998 Award of Honor-Boardwalk Art Show, Virginia Beach, VA
1995 Excellence in Fiber-SoNo Arts Celebration, South Norwalk, CT
2019 Paintings in Fiber: Time and Place, Hoffberger Gallery, Baltimore, MD
2008 Paintings in Fiber, Nutting Gallery, West Liberty State College, West Liberty, WV
2005 Creations Gallery, Hockessin, MA
2002 Threads in Bloom, Peninsula Fine Art Center, Newport News, VA
2001 Stitched Impressions, Hodson Gallery, Hood College, Frederick, MD
1997 Contemporary Samplers, G Street Fabrics, Rockville, MD
1996 Layered Letters, Montpelier Cultural Arts Center, Laurel, MD
1986 Landschaften aus der Nähmaschine, Stadtbücherei Sendling in Munich, Germany
Group Exhibitions
2019 Fiber Focus, Columbia Art Center, Columbia, MD
2017 Jewels for Walls and to Wear, Piedmont Craftsmen Gallery, Winston-Salem, NC
2011 Form and Fabric III, Quiet Waters Park Gallery, Annapolis, MD
2011 Fabric of Life, River Gallery, Chattanooga, TN
2009 Little Treasures, Flinn Gallery, Greenwich, CT
2007 Selections from the Fiber Artists Collective, Ohio Craft Museum, Columbus, OH
2007 Fiber Artists Collective Exhibition, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Washington, DC
2007 Holidazzle, Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft, Louisville, KY
2007 Fiber Fever, Jewish Community Center, Baltimore, MD
2006 Art Of The Stitch, Biennial Exhibition, United Kingdom
2005 Fiber Feast, Fiber Art Center, Amherst, MA
2005 A Stitch in Time, Swan Coach House Gallery, Atlanta, GA
2003 Efflorescence, Artspace at John Michael Kohler Art Center, Sheboygan, WI
2003 9-11: Artists Respond, American Craft Museum, New York, NY
2001 Baltimore 25, Baltimore, MD (curated by Paul J. Smith)
2000 Works by Contemporary Maryland Artists, Government House, Annapolis, MD
1998 Werkstoff Stoff, Stadtmuseum Penzberg, Penzberg, Germany
1998 Power Objects in the Here and Now, Government House, Annapolis, MD
1998 Fantastic Fiber, Yeiser Art Center, Paducah, KY
1998 Art in Bloom, Hurlbutt Gallery, Greenwich, CT
1997 Fiberart International '97, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Pittsburgh, PA
1997 Art MD '97, Howard County Center for the Arts, MD
1995 Mansion Art Gallery of Rockville, Rockville, MD
1993 Works in Fibre, Howard Community College Gallery, Columbia, MD
1993 Small Works, Rosenfeld Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
1992 Fiber Arts '92, Creative Arts Guild and BASF Carpet Fibers, Dalton, GA
Selected Commissions
Pew Charitable Trust, Corporate Headquarters
Howard Community College
Temple Emanuel of Baltimore
Musikfest '89, Bethlehem, PA
Selected Awards
2017 Award for Excellence- Craft Alliance Fine Craft Show at Chautauqua, Chautauqua, NY
2016 Award for Excellence in the Fiber Arts-Piedmont Craftsmen's Fair, Winston-Salem, NC
2009, 1996 Award of Excellence- Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, State College, PA
2011, 2008, 2006, 2003 Award of Merit- Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, State College, PA
2009, 2007 First Place Fiber- Bruce Museum Craft Show, Greenwich, CT
2000 Award of Excellence - Honorable Mention, America Craft Council Show (Baltimore)
1999 Maryland State Arts Council Individual Artist Award
2001 Award of Merit; 1998 Award of Honor-Boardwalk Art Show, Virginia Beach, VA
1995 Excellence in Fiber-SoNo Arts Celebration, South Norwalk, CT
In the Media
My art has been featured in The Crafts Report, "Painting with fiber one stitch at a time" (November 2005) as well as on Maryland Public Television's "Artworks This Week" in 2002, HGTV's "Sew Much More" in 2001, and in newspapers and magazines including the Baltimore Sun, the Chicago Tribune, and Columbia Magazine. My work has also been included in the book Artistry in Fiber: Wall Art by Anne Lee and E. Ashley Rooney.
Susan Levi-Goerlich • Columbia, MD • 410/531-8065
©Susan Levi-Goerlich
©Susan Levi-Goerlich