EILEEN WILLIAMS

About the Artist

Maryland artist Eileen Williams widens the conventional boundaries of fabric as a medium, using fabric as her palette to create one of a kind art. If you think you have seen every style of art there is in past art shows and websites then you may want to take a look at Eileen’s website to see her one of a kind mixed-media and fabric art. Using yards of toile, to contemporary fibers, to whimsical textiles, fabric is stretched, canvas style, over triangle, rectangle or square frames. Her work consists of layers of intricate geometric fabric covered shapes, sometimes including embedded fabric covered faces, producing movement and three-dimensional effects, taking up to a month to complete. Although a self-taught artist Eileen earned an Associates Degree in Arts from Baltimore City Community College, crediting the college with exposing her to the various media that she used in her paintings and sculpturing. In the1980s Eileen worked for a company where she learned the technique of covering commercial life-sized fiberglass animals with upholstery fabric, to emulate animal skins. Not knowing then, this meticulous technique of covering objects with fabric, along with her background in painting and sculpturing would be combined in her work today producing unique artwork. Eileen’s work has been exhibited in galleries, public spaces and art venues located in Virginia, Washington, DC, Maryland, New York and Connecticut. She states how amazing it feels to exhibit her work, one of the reasons besides loving art is as a cancer survivor since 2009, having gone through chemotherapy and radiation, every opportunity that she can exhibit her work and encourage others, is truly a blessing. Some of the highlights are: exhibiting at the Baltimore World Trade Center in 2011; in 2012 debuting as a solo artist in two shows in New York, the Contemporary Art Fair at Jacob Javits Center and Parallax Art Fair in SoHo and in Alexandria, VA at The Torpedo Factory Art Center. In Washington DC 2013, art was displayed at the International Vision Gallery, Italian Embassy and for the 10th Annual Blue Jeans Ball fundraiser benefiting the DC Capital Food Bank, Eileen was one of three, featured artist chosen for her original denim fabric-mixed media art which was auctioned off. Another highlight event for 2013 was being included in the book, The Mixed-Media Artist, Art Tips, Tricks, Secrets and Dreams From 40 Amazing Artists, by author/artist, Seth Apter. One of Eileen’s most memorable shows in 2014 was solo artist exhibiting 35 pieces at the University of Virginia McIntire School of Commerce’s Connaughton Gallery. One of her sales included a purchase by the University. Her best highlight for 2015 was returning to New York to exhibit at Artexpo New York 2015 (Solo Division). Lastly 2017 to present 2018 Eileen is one of the gallery artist at the HorseSpirit Arts Gallery in Maryland. For Eileen, exhibiting is not just a business venture it’s connecting with people and that is beyond works. Her love of art, keeps her passion to create art that evokes conversation, stimulates the imagination and engages one to feel something, alive.

Artist's Statement

I believe that art gives us the opportunity to explore the minds of others, and at its best, it awakens our senses at different levels, promoting a sense of energy and enthusiasm. As an artist, my goal is to create art that evokes conversation, stimulates the imagination and engages one to feel something. My design inspiration comes from many types of visuals. The love of beautiful fabrics inspires me the most along with the colors, textures and eclectic finds. Incorporating all the things with a touch of whimsy, the possibilities are as endless as the imagination.