Through patchworking traditional American tattoo motifs over patchwork quilts,
these textiles are made to be portraits of individuals. 

 

The placement of each motif correlates to the positioning of tattoos on the skin—hipbone sparrows,
under bust medusas, collarbone laurels. The various symbols and designs coalesce into an
overall composition that shows the stories and themes of a life lived. 

 

Combining traditional American tattoo motifs with traditional American quilting design,
these works consider how people use surface decoration as means to express themselves
and the cultural contexts in which they inhabit.