Artist's Statement:
I am a self-taught artist who recently started pursuing art professionally. I work primarily in fiber art and mixed media automata (i.e. moving sculptures).
My fiber art focuses on the exploration of thread as a medium and using thread in innovative and expressive ways. I ‘draw’ with my sewing machine freehand to create drawings and sculptures in thread. While thread is a common, every day fiber with ancient roots, I find it to be an incredibly versatile medium with infinite possibilities for modern art applications.
I particularly love the looseness and freedom of the line created by free motion sewing. Many pieces appear to be delicately ‘drawn or sketched in air’ when sewing on water soluble fabric. Once the fabric is dissolved, the remaining intertwined threads create a lace-like effect which can be molded and shaped while drying to create 3D thread sculptures.
I also enjoy exploring movement through making automata with wood, clay and repurposed materials. Some of the movements in the automata are powered by a hand crank while others involve sand automation. I love to create moving sculptures that simply bring an unexpected moment of surprise and delight to the viewer.
Katie Byers - Des Moines, Iowa 2023