Dynamics 2

Hi! My name is Emma Balder and I’m an artist based in Denver. In my practice, I use my paintings like fabric and fibers like paint to create both quilted paintings and fiber paintings. The work on display at Arvada Art Center, titled "Dynamics 2", is an example of a quilted painting. In this type of work, I create an abstract expressionist painting on canvas, and at the point of completion, I’ll cut it up, rearrange the pieces, and sew them together in a new configuration, while adding in textile waste and other fabric embellishments. I often create a backing and stuff the work like a cushion to give it body and shape, as shown in this piece. "Dynamics 2" is part of a series of works that uses the remnants from multiple larger paintings, as opposed to just one. I’ve also used textiles found on my weekly hikes, in this case specifically along a river. This quilted painting references the fluid shape of water and life’s ever-changing nature. Again, my name is Emma Balder and thanks so much for learning a bit about my work. I hope you like it!