Kestrel Michaud Area 5 Member

Artist Statement:

Kestrel Michaud is a classically-trained, imaginative realism fine artist with a passion for illustrating in fabric. She started working with fabric in 2004 as a Junior in high school. By the time she graduated in 2006, Kestrel had developed her own unique style and technique and had completed almost 30 unique fabric pictures. Her work was hanging and selling in galleries across Pennsylvania as part of the National Road Heritage Corridor program. Kestrel had also won more than 50 local, regional, national, and international awards for her artwork, including a Grand Prize for the Student Art Competition at the 62nd World Science Fiction Convention when she was 15 years old.

Kestrel attended the Ringling College of Art and Design, beginning in the fall of 2006. Although her entire admissions portfolio was comprised of fabric artwork, she tried to avoid fabric in college and focus on other media instead because she didn’t think fabric had a future. But once Kestrel’s professors saw her online fabric portfolio, they wouldn’t let Kestrel work in any other medium. Kestrel’s senior thesis of six gallery-sized fabric artworks were made entirely from fabric. In 2010, Kestrel graduated with honors and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration, having gained an extensive understanding of how to create captivating works of art out of fabric.

Until 2017, Kestrel worked as a full-time graphic designer, working with organizations including Judith Leiber, Kenneth Cole, and NASA. That year, her passion for fabric was reawakened by discovering there were other artists in the world using fabric to create art. Kestrel made her first art quilt in 2018, won her first major award in 2019, and has gone on to win top prizes at quilt shows across the country. In 2021, Kestrel won a Grand Prize at the International Quilt Festival in Houston, the largest quilt festival in the world. Her works have also traveled to galleries, museums, and quilt shows across the US and internationally to countries including France, England, South Korea, the Czech Republic, and Australia.

All of Kestrel’s quilts are in the style of imaginative realism. Kestrel has an entire imaginary steampunk world in her head, complete with characters, locations, and events. Kestrel combines the lessons about visual storytelling she learned in college with her talent working with fabric to create quilts that tell stories from this fictional realm in a visual style that makes the imagery look real, even though it’s not.

Kestrel’s technical style is called fused, raw-edge appliqué, and her quilts are notably different from her early fabric pictures because the fabric pictures did not include stitching. Each quilt is comprised of hundreds or thousands of individual pieces of fabric, some even smaller than the tip of a fingernail. Kestrel cuts and assemble them like a puzzle made from overlapping pieces. Each piece of fabric is fused in place with a heat-sensitive fabric glue before being quilted at a density of 1/8”-1/16”. Kestrel stitches her designs by free-motion quilting, which means she moves the fabric under the needle of her sewing machine to “draw” lines out of thread.

Kestrel is also pioneering the use of technology in quilt design and creation. Her process for creating her work is entirely self-developed, and after learning about art quilts in 2017, she pushed to convert her formerly analog process to digital. She draws her designs on an iPad, develops a full pattern in Illustrator, uses a Cricut cutting machine to cut her fabrics, and developed a method to entirely prevent the fabric from fraying. She has also invented a process to accurately select fabrics for her digital designs using self-created paper color swatches.

Today, Kestrel works as a full-time, professional quilt artist, exhibiting and selling her work around the world. She also shares her knowledge by teaching her process through Patreon, live and virtual lectures, and live workshops. In 2023, Kestrel was invited to be a guest on The Quilt Show and Quilting Arts TV. The former was published on July 30, 2023 (episode #3303). The latter aired on PBS in December 2023 (episodes 3001, 3003, 3007). Kestrel and her work have been featured in a number of magazines, including Quilting Arts Magazine, Quiltfolk, and Art Quilting Studio. Her work has graced the covers of bUneke magazine and the SAQA Journal. Her fine art training, creative mind, inventive nature, decades of experience, and unique style make Kestrel’s work unlike that of any other artist.

Awards:

• First Place, Animal category ($1000)- Road to California, an international, juried quilt show – Ontario Convention Center, Ontario, CA – Jan 2023
• Second Place, Small Pictorial category ($700) – International Quilt Festival judged competition, an international juried quilt show – George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, TX – Nov 2023
• Best Original Design ($3500) – AQS QuiltWeek Branson, an international juried quilt show – Branson Convention Center, Branson, MO – Mar 2023
• First Place, 1st Entry category ($1500) – AQS QuiltWeek Branson, an international juried quilt show – Branson Convention Center, Branson, MO – Mar 2023
• Best Pictorial Quilt ($250) – Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival, a national, juried quilt show – Hampton Roads Convention Center, Hampton, VA – Feb 2023
• First Place, Pictorial category ($1000)- Road to California, an international, juried quilt show – Ontario Convention Center, Ontario, CA – Jan 2023
• First Place, Small Pictorial category ($1000) – International Quilt Festival judged competition, an international juried quilt show – George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, TX – Nov 2022
• Second Place, Innovative Category ($700) – Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival, a national, juried quilt show – Hampton Roads Convention Center, Hampton, VA – Feb 2022
• Second Place, Animal category ($700) – Road to California, an international, juried quilt show – Ontario Convention Center, Ontario, CA – Jan 2022
• Master Award for Contemporary Artistry ($5000) – Houston International Quilt Festival, an international, juried quilt show – George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, TX – Oct 2021
• Best Use of Color – Visuals #3 ($100), Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival online quilt show – Feb 2021
• First Place, What You See category (non-monetary prize) — Road@Home, Road to California’s online, juried quilt show – Jan 2021
• Best Pictorial Quilt ($250) – Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival, a national, juried quilt show – Hampton Roads Convention Center, Hampton, VA – Feb 2020
• First Place, Animal Kingdom category ($1000) – World of Beauty, International Quilt Festival judged competition, an international juried quilt show – George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, TX – Nov 2019
• Best Wall Quilt ($1000) – Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival, a national, juried quilt show – Hampton Roads Convention Center, Hampton, VA – Feb 2019
• Viewer’s Choice ($100) – World Quilt Tampa, an international, juried quilt show – Tampa Convention Center, Tampa, FL – Jan 2019
• Judge’s Choice ($100) – World Quilt Tampa, an international, juried quilt show – Tampa Convention Center, Tampa, FL – Jan 2019

Exhibitions:

• StitchPunk, a SAQA Global juried, international exhibition, traveling to:
• New England Quilt Museum, Lowell, Massachusetts: Apr 30-Jul 13, 2024
• Festival of Quilts, Birmingham, United Kingdom: Aug 1-5, 2024
• Grants Pass Museum of Art, Grants Pass, Oregon: May – Jul 2026
• “Once Upon A Thread” themed, international quilt exhibition, traveled to:
• European Patchwork Meeting, Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines, France – Sep 2022
• QFIK in Korea (Quilt Festival in Korea) – Seoul, Korea – Oct 2022
• Farfield Mill, Sedbergh, England – Jan 11-Mar 15, 2023
• Australian Quilt Convention – Royal Exhibition Building, Carlton Gardens, Melbourne, Australia – Apr 13-16, 2023
• PPM Quilt Show Brno – Brno Exhibition Center, Brno, Czech Republic – Apr 21-23, 2023
• Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center, Pennsburg, PA – May-Jul 2023
• La Fête du Fil, Labastide, France – Aug 12-13, 2023
• Fur, Fangs, Feathers & Fins, a SAQA Global juried, international exhibition, traveled to:
• Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson, AZ – Apr 2–Jun 19, 2022
• Quilt Festival Long Beach, Long Beach, CA – July 6-8, 2023
• Quilt Festival, Seoul, South Korea – Nov 2-5, 2023
• Detroit Zoo, Detroit, MI – Apr 1-Sep 1, 2024
• Light the World, a SAQA Global traveling exhibition, traveled to:
• European Patchwork Meeting, Sainte-Marie-Aux-Mines, France – Sep 16-19 2021
• 14th International Quilt Show Brno, Czech Republic – April 22-24, 2022
• AQS QuiltWeek Spring – Daytona Beach, Florida – Feb 22-25, 2023
• AQS QuiltWeek Spring – Branson, Missouri – Mar 22-25, 2023
• AQS QuiltWeek Spring – Paducah, Kentucky – Apr 26-29, 2023
• Brigham City Museum of Art & History, Brigham City, Utah – Jun 1-Sep 30, 2023
• Science Central, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Jan 13–May 26, 2024
• Quilt National ’21: The Best of Contemporary Quilts, an international, traveling exhibition, traveled to:
• The Dairy Barn Arts Center, Athens, Ohio – May-Sep 2021
• Ohio Arts Council Riffe Gallery, Columbus, OH – Jan 27-Apr 9, 2022
• San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles, San Jose, CA – Oct 16, 2022-Apr 19, 2023
• Festival Prizewinners 2021, an exhibition of prizewinning quilts from the 2021 International Quilt Festival – Texas Quillt Museum, La Grange, TX – May 5-Aug 28, 2022
• Quilts=Art=Quilts, an international exhibition at the Schweinfurth Art Center, Auburn, NY – Oct 2020-Jan 2021
• Aloft!, a SAQA Global traveling exhibition, traveled to:
• AQS QuiltWeek, Daytona Beach, FL – Feb 26-29 2020
• Original Sewing & Quilt Expo, Atlanta, GA – Mar 11-13, 2021
• Original Sewing & Quilt Expo, Lakeland, FL – Mar 18-20, 2021
• Original Sewing & Quilt Expo, Chicago, IL – Jun 3-5, 2021
• Original Sewing & Quilt Expo, Cleveland, OH – Jul 15-17, 2021
• Original Sewing & Quilt Expo, Raleigh, NC – Aug 5-7, 2021
• Original Sewing & Quilt Expo, Dallas/Fort Worth, TX – Aug 19-21, 2021
• Original Sewing & Quilt Expo, Cincinnati, OH – Sep 16-18, 2021
• Original Sewing & Quilt Expo, Fredericksburg, VA – Sep 30, Oct 1 & 2, 2021
• Original Sewing & Quilt Expo, Novi, MI – Nov 11-13, 2021
• Original Sewing & Quilt Expo, Nashville, TN – Nov 18-20, 2021
• Grants Pass Museum of Art, Grants Pass, OR – Jun 1–Jul 31, 2022

 

Education:
BFA, Illustration, Ringling College of Art and Design, 2010

Professional Connections:

• Member of Florida Artist Group (FLAG) – 2023-current
• Member of Brevard Cultural Alliance (BCA) – 2020-current
• Member of Strawbridge Art League (SAL) – 2019-current
• Member of American Quilt Society (AQS) – 2018-current
• Member of The Art Students Guild of Brevard (TASGOB) – 2017-current
• Member of Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA) – 2017-current

Volunteer & Donations:

• Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA) Board Member – March 2024
• “Revan Limited Edition 01/10”: Donated to 2023 SAQA Benefit Auction
• “Luke Limited Edition 03/10”: Donated to the 2023 Tibetan Terrier Club of America benefit auction
• “Super Mario Galaxy Limited Edition 01/10”: Donated to Awesome Games Done Quick 2023
• SAQA Global Exhibition Committee – 2022-Present
• “Luke Limited Edition 02/10”: Donated to 2021 SAQA Benefit Auction
• “My Friend and the Setting Sun Limited Edition 01/10”: Donated to Summer Games Done Quick 2021
• SAQA FL Pod 5 Leader – 2020-Present
• “Mine Cart Madness Limited Edition 01/10”: Donated to Summer Games Done Quick 2019

Media :

• Michaud, K. Talent. “Bits and Pieces” Quilting Arts TV, S30 E7, Golden Peak Media, 2023. Airs on PBS.
• Michaud, K. Talent. “Explore Design with Drawing and Color” Quilting Arts TV, S30 E3, Golden Peak Media, 2023. Airs on PBS.
• Michaud, K. Talent. “Innovate!” Quilting Arts TV, S30 E1, Golden Peak Media, 2023. Airs on PBS.
• ARJJ Corporation. (2023, July 30). “A Mod Podge Appliqué Technique and Fabric Selection with Kestrel Michaud.” The Quilt Show. episode #3301. https://thequiltshow.com/watch/raw-edge-applique/a-mod-podge-applique-technique-and-fabric-selection-with-kestrel-michaud-embroidery-hoop-quilting-with-sarah-vedeler
• Michaud, K. (2023, July). “Not Today.” American Quilter July 2023. Paducah, KY; American Quilter’s Society. 68.
• Michaud, K. (2023, June). “Beauty Queen.” Quilting Arts Magazine, Summer 2023(118), Golden Peak Media, Golden, CO, 2023, p. 30.
• Brubaker Knapp, S. (2023, June). “Artist Profile: Kestrel Michaud.” Quilting Arts Magazine, Summer 2023(118), 51–53.
• DeNegre, V.H. and Michaud, K. (2023, June.) ‘Show Us Your Studio’, Quilting Arts Studio, Summer 2023(118). 54-57.
• Michaud, K. (2023, February). “Leap of Faith.” Quilting Arts Magazine, Spring 2023(117), Golden Peak Media, Golden, CO, 2023, p. 31.
• Michaud, K. (2023). “Luke, Artist Proof.” Quilltfolk Dogs. Eugene, OR; Quiltfolk. 22.
• Maslowski, B. and Michaud, K. (2022, July 12). “QOF Episode 74 with Kestrel Michaud.” *Quilter on Fire Podcast.* https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/qof-episode-74-kestrel-michaud/id1543038352?i=1000569706085
• Anderson, A., & Michaud, K. (2021, November 29). “AlexLIVE-Kestrel Michaud – Steampunk Quilts – How did she do that?” The Quilt Show, YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJsioKJFdIM
• Walton, L., & Michaud, K. (2021, October 21). “ARTIST STORY – Kestrel Michaud shares how she creates her quilts with thousands of pieces – AMAZING.” YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PM2pkIo5sdU
• Michaud, K. (2021, June). “Leap of Faith.” bUneke Magazine(20). Cover. https://indd.adobe.com/view/26fdfbaa-6bf4-4b1f-82a8-c26886e43d70
• Brotherton, M. (2021, June). “Melbourne Artist Give Back in a Beautiful Way.” bUneke Magazine(20), 8–11. https://indd.adobe.com/view/26fdfbaa-6bf4-4b1f-82a8-c26886e43d70
• Michaud, K. (2021, July 21). “” Inspired to Sew(92). SCHMETNeedles. https://issuu.com/schmetzneedles/docs/its92-aug21
• Michaud, K. (2020, December). “The Last Page” feat. “Best Friends”. Art Quilting Studio Winter 2021.
• Sielman, M., & Michaud, K. (2020, July 27). “Conversations with the Artists: Aloft.” Textile Talks. Studio Art Quilt Associates. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hxk6Q1o8bCo
• Michaud, K. (2020). “Steampunk Puppy LE 01/10.” SAQA Journal. Hebron, CT; Studio Art Quilt Associates. Cover.