Katherine Frensley

I have always had a connection and love for nature, whether through observation, maintaining it through my garden, using natural materials in my art, capturing it through photography, or just being outside often. I discovered a love for natural dyes and found that the physical participation, constant changing of my environment, the chemical development and processes, and the extensive utility of a single dye captured my attention. I found satisfaction in discovering what the combination of materials and dyes was capable of, extracting brilliant colors from unsuspecting sources.

I incorporate weaving, tufting, quilting, painting, sculpture, and printmaking techniques as vessels for my research and experimentation with nature. Many of my pieces take on familiar and unfamiliar organic forms and patterns, which are vulnerable to their newly introduced environment. At the same time, I also focus on acknowledging the use and sourcing of recycled and natural materials in an ethically responsible manner. By reusing, recycling, growing, and harvesting materials for my work, I remain conscious of the ever-increasing presence of commercial and chemical waste. While I recognize that I cannot always be perfectly sustainable or fully responsible for every form of waste I generate, this awareness continually guides my practice toward creating art from biodegradable, compostable, non-toxic, and natural matter, redirecting attention to what can be made responsibly from the world around us.

This work is my subtle attempt to further preserve the planet, connect with the histories of these processes, and create compelling pieces that reflect both the beauty I find in nature and the joy I experience in their making. In presenting these works, I invite the audience to appreciate the colors, textures, patterns, and materials inspired by the natural world, while also questioning their beauty and relevance.