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Bio

A textile artist based outside Buffalo, NY, Jill Thomas holds a B.F.A. in Illustration from Syracuse University. She began her career creating artwork for children’s books and apparel sold nationwide. Her work has since evolved from whimsical watercolor illustrations to elaborate fabric collages, while retaining the strong emphasis on color, shape, and pattern that characterized her earlier work.

Using a fused-fabric collage technique, Jill layers thousands of individually cut pieces of material to create richly detailed compositions. Her work offers viewers a multifaceted experience, revealing a cohesive, painterly composition from a distance and unexpected intricacies and texture upon closer consideration.

Jill is an exhibiting member of the Buffalo Society of Artists. Her work has been featured in galleries and juried exhibitions locally and throughout the Eastern Shore of Delaware, including the Rehoboth Art League, Bethany-Fenwick Chamber of Commerce, and as part of the Southern Delaware Artist Studio Tour.

Artist Statement

With work ranging from intricate landscapes to expressive interpretations of natural forms, my work explores the many ways we experience and find connection with places, objects, ourselves, and each other.

Working with hand-cut fabric pieces, I carefully arrange and adhere each fragment to a foundation, allowing them to overlap and connect, layering curious combinations of color and pattern. My process involves a continual shift between working up close, immersed in the details, and stepping back to consider the composition as a whole. This interplay between the individual elements and the larger picture reflects the complexities of life, where seemingly disconnected pieces form relationships, reveal unexpected patterns, and contribute to something greater than themselves. The intricate arrangement of fabric can evoke the chaos and unpredictability of life, while stepping back offers a broader perspective revealing a sense of harmony and clarity that may not be apparent when viewed up close.

My subject matter is drawn from photographs of meaningful places, significant objects, and moments of inspiration encountered in daily life. These are subjects that resonate with me on a personal level, sustaining the time, attention, and contemplation each piece requires.

My creative process is a form of moving meditation, connecting mind, body, and spirit through a balance of deliberate choices and intuitive responses. This practice offers an opportunity for reflection, discovery, and a deeper sense of presence.

Ultimately, I hope my work extends beyond my own experience to create a connection with the viewer. By bringing together recognizable forms and elaborate, sometimes abstract arrangements, I invite others to pause, explore the details, and discover their own relationships with the work, both in its individual elements and as a complete composition.