about

My quilted contemporary mixed media art quilts, termed tapices here, are originally designed and individually crafted. While adding interest to a decor, these works assist with acoustic control of sound from the shiny, hard surfaces in modern interiors.  Most are designed large enough to hang (~1m – 2.5m) but smaller ones are ideal for framing or mounting on stretched canvases.

The skills of dressmaking and embroidery I learned at home and school during my 50s Australian childhood continue to be used in abstract, minimalist designs.   All fabrics interest me, and I've worked with many including cottons, silk and nylon organzas, mylar, vinyl and leather plus some salvaged and recycled materials. I'll sew with any thread I can put through a needle.  My techinques are mainly hand and machine stitch, fused applique and at times, burning.

My two main sources of inspiration are 

1. lines, shapes, colours and textures of landscape. In over five decades of married life with a geologist, landscapes on three continents have inspired many of my abstract works through whichI have come to see "Landscape" as a metaphor for Life.
2. geometric patchwork and quilting, which I encountered while living in Colorado in the late 80s, and many works reflect the enduring influence of repeated primal shapes in grid formats.

My work is held in public and private collections in Australia, USA, Argentina and Uruguay. In addition to solo exhibitions in those countries, my art has appeared in many prestigious international juried, invitational and curated group exhibitions, including 6 Quilt Nationals and several Art Quilt Australia biennials.  I exhibit regularly in USA and Australia, occasionally teach workshops, and welcome opportunities to speak to textile and fibre art groups. 

My work is for sale, and I undertake commissions.  Contact me for further information. 

My blog, www.alisonschwabe.com/weblog/ is in effect my artist’s diary, where I write on interesting and influential experiences such as exhibitions or workshops attended; and I outline and discuss some of the sample making to explore materials or techniques I'm considering for new work.

I discuss recent work in Quilt National quilts here: QN21 and QN23 

You may download a PDF of my full catalogue here.   

Follow me on Instagram @schwabealison  Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100082231031799