MAUDE MAY
art
Go to your studio and make stuff.
Making is what gets me going. Curiosity keeps me on the path
and assists me in arriving at
my final destination, which isn't always where I thought I'd end up.
The push/pull "randomness" vs. "structure" of art making and
my graphic design background continue to challenge me and
draws me into the studio daily.
I am a collage artist – layering images utilizing hand stitching and photography. Compelled to create visual stories I combine discarded snapshots, copyright-free Library of Congress images and my own photographs of past work to create both simple and complex fabric art. Re-interpreting portraits, from my collection of photographs and polaroids, with stitching and appliqué techniques, is another method I am exploring to encourage viewers to discover and honor the mysteries of the people, ideas, places and possessions that were once deemed precious and have now been left behind.
I have been making art in one form or another since childhood – stitching pre-printed samplers, fabricating elaborate collaged drawings and designing tiny dresses for my troll dolls. With advanced degrees in ceramics, textiles and photography, my passions have led me in many directions and my career has encompassed a wide variety of professions: pastry chef, art director, location scout, miniature golf course designer, photo stylist and paint-color consultant. For more than two decades I owned a graphic design business, meeting with clients, designing invitations, favors and collateral for corporations, non-profits and private individuals.
Upcoming Exhibitions
October 2027 / RiverSea Gallery / Astoria, Oregon
My compact home studio allows me to not only work easily in the early hours, but also late into the evening. I am often accompanied by my cats Winnie & Henry.