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Shoebox Artists
Here are some of the artists who make up the Shoebox Arts community.
Each brings their own style, perspective, and creativity, contributing to a space where artists
support each other, share their work, and grow together.
Patricia Fortlage
patriciafortlage.com
@patricia.fortlage
In Memory of our dear Patti Fortlage
Emily Araújo
https://emily-araujo.com/
@searaujoart
The grief of losing everything in the Eaton Fire sparked urgency in my art practice. Post-fire, colors simmer and patterns teem through my works on paper. My gouache and watercolor paintings champion wildness in form, color and texture. The imagery is directly tied to my experiences in the L.A. landscape. Uprooted from Altadena, I move around L.A. more. In transit, I look at the interplay of nature with the built environment: agaves like burst stars in gravel patch lawns, geometric shrubs carved to fit walkways, palms thrusting to find the sun. Potted plants line apartment steps like beacons signaling home. Urban gardens are thresholds and mirrors for reflection on how the natural world shapes us, as we shape it. Painting, I cultivate new growth.
Marianna Baker
mbfiberandclay.com
@mbfiberandclay
As a contemporary fiber artist, I harness the tactile nature of fabric, embroidery, and beading to convey powerful narratives that resonate on both emotional and societal levels. My work explores themes of identity, memory, and transformation, weaving together intricate textures and vibrant colors to create dialogue between viewer and material.
Through meticulous handwork and fabric manipulation, I elevate traditional techniques into contemporary statements, inviting audiences to reflect on their own experiences and connections. Each stitch, bead, and fold serves as both medium and storytelling form, celebrating resilience and the complexity of the human spirit.
I embrace experimental embroidery as a means to challenge tradition and explore new narratives. By merging unconventional materials and techniques, I create tactile pieces that invite curiosity and provoke thought. My work celebrates the beauty of imperfection and creativity's unpredictable nature.
My artistic journey testifies to craft's transformative power, where every piece becomes a visual and tactile exploration of what it means to be seen and heard in a world that often overlooks life's intricacies.
Through meticulous handwork and fabric manipulation, I elevate traditional techniques into contemporary statements, inviting audiences to reflect on their own experiences and connections. Each stitch, bead, and fold serves as both medium and storytelling form, celebrating resilience and the complexity of the human spirit.
I embrace experimental embroidery as a means to challenge tradition and explore new narratives. By merging unconventional materials and techniques, I create tactile pieces that invite curiosity and provoke thought. My work celebrates the beauty of imperfection and creativity's unpredictable nature.
My artistic journey testifies to craft's transformative power, where every piece becomes a visual and tactile exploration of what it means to be seen and heard in a world that often overlooks life's intricacies.
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