Rebecca Speakes, Fiber Artist I have designed and sewn art quilts since 1981, working in my homes in Minnesota and southwestern New Mexico. My work is represented in art galleries as well as private and corporate art collections. Selected for numerous shows across the country, my artwork has won many awards. My background includes 28 years in graphic arts. During this time I became familiar with methods of design. My signature style in quilt design employs a set of grid lines over which I draw repeating quilt patterns. Other pursuits include antique quilt restoration, graphic design, beaded jewelry, and crocheted clothing. About 14 years ago I created a line of table runners, placemats, mug mats, pillows and Deco bags. They are constructed of 100% cotton canvas and 100% cotton batiks. I apply foil-stamping to the batiks to add metallic sparkle. Geometric shapes made from the batiks are machine-sewn to the canvas with gold metallic thread, resulting in a bold design statement for your home. My artwork is inspired by the endless rhythmic diversity of Nature. Her beautiful colors, endless shapes, cycles, and patterns find their way into my quilts. I am fascinated by how apparently incompatible colors and forms are seamlessly blended together in Nature. I strive to recreate combinations of disparate elements into a continuously flowing work of art. All my quilts are machine-pieced and hand-quilted using cotton batiks, chintz and lame'. Some are embellished with foil-stamping, beads, stone fetishes, shells, Guatemalan worry dolls, wire, cording, and fanciful found objects. The designs are quite geometric and modern; the colors range from earthy to bright jewel-like. Often they are in unusual free-form shapes. Small rings sewn on the back of each corner allow easy hanging at any angle. Changing the angle changes the dynamics of the piece.

Solo Exhibitions

2011, 2012.... January's Gallery, Truth or Consequences, NM

2006, 2007.... Fire Water Gallery, Truth or Consequences, NM

2005 .... Sierra Grande Lodge, Truth or Consequences, NM

1999 .... Banfill-Locke Center for the Arts, Minneapolis, MN

1998 .... Prairie Star, St. Paul, MN

1997 .... Bobino, Minneapolis, MN

1997 .... Colorful Quilts, St. Paul, MN

1995 .... Tapestry Gallery, Madrid, NM

1991 .... Coda Contemporary Furniture Gallery, Minneapolis, MN

1987, 1989 .... David Omer Associates Gallery, Deephaven, MN

Group Exhibitions

2014 .... Fiberart 2014: A Mixed Bag, RioBravoFineArt Gallery, Truth or Consequences, NM

2011 .... Tombaugh Gallery, Las Cruces, NM

2010 .... Community Gallery, Santa Fe, NM

2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014.... Textile Center Members Show, Minneapolis, MN

2005 .... Geronimo Springs Gallery, Truth or Consequences, NM

2004 .... Turtleback Center for the Arts, Truth or Consequences, NM

2003 .... Howard Conn Fine Arts Center, Minneapolis, MN

2003 .... Textile Center of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

2002 .... Lake Elmo Art Center, Lake Elmo, MN

2002 .... Banfill-Locke Art Center, Fridley, MN

2001 .... Exhibition 2001, Riverton, WY

2001 .... Bloomington Art Center, Bloomington, MN

2003, 2002, 2000, 1999,1998 .... Lutheran Brotherhood Gallery, Minneapolis, MN

1999 .... College of Visual Arts Gallery, St. Paul, MN

1999 .... JAX Studio Gallery, Minneapolis, MN

1999 .... Center for the Visual Arts, Wausau, WI

1998 .... Arts on Broadway Gallery, Watertown, SD

1998 .... Hoyt Institute of Fine Arts, New Castle, PA

1998 .... NoBIAS Gallery, North Bennington, VT

1998 .... Westmoreland Art Nationals, Youngwood, PA

1997, 1998 .... International Quilt Festival, Houston, TX

1998 .... Small Wonders: Embellished Mini-Quilts, Sacramento,CA

1998 .... Exhibition '98, Riverton, WY

1997 .... Riverwalk Art Festival and Exhibition, York, PA

1997 .... Small Wonders: Embellished Mini-Quilts, Austin, TX

1997 .... Textile and Fiber Show, Sioux Falls, SD

1996 .... Small Wonders: Embellished Mini-Quilts, Houston,TX

1992 .... University of Iowa, Gallery 181, Iowa City, IA

1989 .... Quilt National '89, Athens, OH

Corporate Collections

American Medical Systems, Minneapolis, MN

Design Tex, Minneapolis, MN