Every little piece of fabric, from lace to cotton, from wool to silk, contains a story, a story that is years old or just beginning, a happy or dramatic story, but in any case, a story that is worth telling. Bisa Butler, with her decorated fabrics and quilts, does just that, gives voice to long stories a lifetime and faces to forgotten people. Bisa lives in Brooklyn, but never forgets her African origins, which led her to represent only black people. Through different textures, threads and vibrant colors, Bisa manages to create portraits so realistic that she doubts that they are made of fabric.

“My stories are told in the fabrics that I choose, the textures I combine, and the colors that create a whole new composition. My portraits tell stories that may have been forgotten over time.”

The artistic current of which the American artist is part is called fiber art, which embraces a technique with a centuries-old history, whose origins date back to the weaving of the tapestries that adorned the European courts. Fiber art experienced a rediscovery in the second half of the last century, managing to survive until today. 

Discover Bisa Butler’s works in our gallery and on her Instagram profile.