Artist Bio
I'm Bri’Anna J. Richards, a free-spirited creative newly based in Houston, TX. I was born and raised in the beautiful mountains of West Virginia, where I discovered my love for the arts at a young age. This love was further cultivated by the creative women in my family who supported and encouraged my passions. Knowing that there was no other life path for me, I refined my skills at West Virginia State University, which is the state’s first historically black college and university, where I earned my BA in Arts with a minor in Art History. I enjoy working with a variety of mediums, believing that every piece needs the right touch to truly tell its story, but my favorite and most used is textiles. While others might see fabric scraps and discarded items, I see magic waiting to be brought to life. My work is heavily influenced by nature and the complexities of being a woman in today’s world. Like the cycles of growth, struggle, and resilience found in the natural world, my art reflects the enduring spirit of women in our society today.
Artist Statement
The sweet rhythmic clicking of my mother’s sewing machine. One of the many layers of my life that has shaped my work as a textile artist. By layering different colored tulle and cotton fabrics in combination with both hand sewing and machine stitching, I create a unique style of art quilting. Each layer added isn’t erased or covered up by the next, but rather enhances the last and lays the foundation for the next. In the same way, our personal experiences mesh together to create who we are today. Through my work, I explore the feminine experience. I delve into our beauty and spirituality, as well as, the suppression and the quest to be seen as more than what we are on the surface.