Felt Madonna 

In this work, I aimed to incorporate materials that reflect my mother’s influence on my relationship with art. As a child, my first mediums were felt, embroidery, and watercolor. My mother always celebrated each piece I created; many of them still hang in our home. These small creations stem from the traditions and the artistic environment she fostered around me. For example, I included details like foil from Saint Nicholas Day, when she would place chocolate coins and tangerines in our boots, as well as elements of the embroidery she frequently did.

The piece began with a painting, from which I traced and cut out a section of an old cashmere sweater belonging to my mom to fit around the figure. The woman in the center was inspired by artwork in my home depicting divine motherhood, such as images of Mary Magdalene. I added a golden felt piece to represent the chest of my Madonna, reflecting how saintliness is often illustrated in art. Additionally, I incorporated a gold button from my mother’s collection that features a French iris. The blanket over the baby references my baby quilt, which my great aunt on my mother’s side hand-stitched for me. After adding felt beading and embroidery, I sewed my fabric onto the paper using holes I had poked.

This project came together quite seamlessly; I was in a creative flow, with new ideas and connections emerging continuously. Initially, I wanted to create something using only felt, but I ultimately chose mixed media to allow for more detail. The original inspiration for this project stemmed from a felt piece my mom had in my nursery — an image of a mother and her baby. Through this, I wanted to convey how my mother introduced me to art and wove it into my childhood, ultimately shaping the artist I am today.