THE FABRIC OF US
The Fabric of Us
88 × 72 in
2026
Felted Wool
The Fabric of Us continues my ongoing investigation into wool as both material and language. In this work, I move beyond using fiber simply as a textile and instead approach it as a painterly medium, allowing layers of wool to function like brushstrokes that build color, atmosphere, gesture, and emotion.
Inspired by my work with the children of Play Studio Artelier and by my earlier Childhood Memories series, these figures celebrate the complexity of growing up. Rather than telling a single story, the portraits emerge through expression—a glance, an embrace, a playful pose, a moment of contemplation. Together they become a collective portrait of a new generation, one that embraces vulnerability, individuality, and connection.
Created entirely through wet felting, the work transforms painting into an act of accumulation rather than application. Fibers are layered, fused, and compressed until they become both image and object, dissolving the boundaries between painting, drawing, and textile. The surface retains the warmth and softness of wool while carrying the expressive intensity traditionally associated with paint.
This piece is also an homage to the young artists I teach. Their freedom, curiosity, and fearless approach to making continually reshape my own artistic language. Created to be exhibited alongside their work in The Fabric of Me at The CAMP Gallery, The Fabric of Us celebrates the reciprocal relationship between teaching and creating. It is both a continuation of my exploration of childhood and memory and an acknowledgment that some of my greatest inspiration comes from witnessing the creativity of the next generation.
The Fabric of Me
An Exhibition by the Young Artists of Play Studio Artelier
Play Studio Artelier is proud to present The Fabric of Me, an exhibition celebrating the creativity, curiosity, and artistic growth of more than fifty young artists.
Bringing together works created throughout the year alongside new pieces developed during our Summer Art Camp, this exhibition showcases a remarkable journey into the world of contemporary fiber art. Through self-portraiture, each child explored questions of identity, observation, and imagination while experimenting with an array of fiber techniques, including wet felting, weaving, stitching, embroidery, textile collage, and soft sculpture.
Inspired by the work of artists such as Judith Scott, Jeff Koons, William Kentridge, Nick Cave, Sheila Hicks, Bisa Butler, and many others, our students discovered how contemporary artists transform materials into ideas. They learned that fiber is more than a craft—it is a language capable of expressing memory, emotion, and individuality.
Every artwork presented here reflects hours of experimentation, problem-solving, and joyful play. Layer by layer and fiber by fiber, these young artists explored color theory, texture, contrast, composition, and materiality, discovering how wool, thread, and fabric can become powerful tools for storytelling.
We invite you to celebrate these emerging artists and experience their work in a professional gallery setting at The CAMP Gallery. By valuing children’s artistic voices, we recognize that creativity nurtured today becomes the foundation for tomorrow’s culture.
Participating Artists
Alesia Pereda • Alana Eraso • Alejandro Tovar • Anastasia Perez Vallenilla • Angela Hernandez Fontaine • Angelina Sisniega • Antonella Fuentes Velez • Camila Bettencourt • Camila D’Ascola • Carlota Eugenia Bolboa V. • Catalina Perez Vallenilla • Cecilia Alvarado • Elena Quintero • Emiliana Eraso • Emma Dunn • Eva Maxwell • Federico de la Rosa • Francesca Maquilon • Francesca Sinning • Gabriela Kelly • Henry Hearst • Ivanna Mena • Jack Kearns • Lara Hartowicz • Leia Martinez Espartero • Letizia Donado • Luciana Quintero • Luciano Cardona • Luna Chambless • Manuela Donado • Maria Antonieta Garza • Marie Palazzi • Martina Tomé Rivera • Martina Wiechers • Maximiliano Tomé Rivera • Micaela Layrisse • Mila Gil • Mirta Jesus de Souza • Myla Fortun • Portia Espinosa • Sebastian Perez Tollinche • Sofia Dunn • Stella Vandermey • Stellan Bijaoui • Thomas Cuellar • Tobías Ignacio Rodríguez • Valentina Michelangeli.
