Constance Collins
"I see my world in patterns. As a child, I drew patterns while others sketched their pets or family. My eyes recognize patterns in everything from nature to buildings to menswear. Crisply defined patterns are the foundation of my work. Designing my color runs in my warps to complement the pattern is a puzzle and requires many iterations before I am pleased with the final placement of each yarn."
Constance's artistic expression contains three elements: pattern, color and texture. She became a weaver because it requires all of these. Architecture is a major inspiration for her patterns and designs because of its precision and angularity. The interplay between colors intrigues her and its impact is critical in her fabric design. Her textiles' textures add a dimensional component to our lives.
Constance modifies traditional weaves and strategically integrates colorful warps to create new fabrics featuring ovals and other shapes uncommon to conventional weaving. Most pieces are reversible. Each one is handwoven in ultra-fine eco-friendly alpaca, bamboo, and silk yarns that create up to 1000 interlacings per square inch of fabric.
Constance's Fine Arts Degree from Indiana University is in Woven and Constructed Textiles. Then she developed her artistic expression while honing her craftsmanship to an expert level. In Chicago, she did production handweaving, making fabrics for Henredon and others. As an Associate Professor in Fashion Design at the Illinois Institute of Art, she taught woven fabric design using a CAD program.
Constance's artistic expression contains three elements: pattern, color and texture. She became a weaver because it requires all of these. Architecture is a major inspiration for her patterns and designs because of its precision and angularity. The interplay between colors intrigues her and its impact is critical in her fabric design. Her textiles' textures add a dimensional component to our lives.
Constance modifies traditional weaves and strategically integrates colorful warps to create new fabrics featuring ovals and other shapes uncommon to conventional weaving. Most pieces are reversible. Each one is handwoven in ultra-fine eco-friendly alpaca, bamboo, and silk yarns that create up to 1000 interlacings per square inch of fabric.
Constance's Fine Arts Degree from Indiana University is in Woven and Constructed Textiles. Then she developed her artistic expression while honing her craftsmanship to an expert level. In Chicago, she did production handweaving, making fabrics for Henredon and others. As an Associate Professor in Fashion Design at the Illinois Institute of Art, she taught woven fabric design using a CAD program.
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Selected Exhibitions & Awards
The Smithsonian Craft Show, National Building Museum, Washington, D.C., 2019
2022 Textile & Fiber Juried Exhibition, Robert Hillestad Textiles Gallery, Lincoln, NE, 2022
American Craft Exposition , Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe, IL, 2019
Lakefront Festival of Art - awarded Best of Show, Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee, WI, 2019
Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show, Philadelphia Convention Center, Philadelphia, PA, 2018, 2022
Longs Park Art Festival, Lancaster, PA, 2022
Academy Art MuseumCraft Show, Academy Art Museum, Easton, MD, 2018, 2021
ACC - American Craft Made, Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, MD, 2022
Art From the Heartland, Indianapolis Arts Center, Indianapolis, IN, 2020
Art & Activism , Gallery 924, Arts Council of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, 2021
The Smithsonian Craft Show, National Building Museum, Washington, D.C., 2019
2022 Textile & Fiber Juried Exhibition, Robert Hillestad Textiles Gallery, Lincoln, NE, 2022
American Craft Exposition , Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe, IL, 2019
Lakefront Festival of Art - awarded Best of Show, Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee, WI, 2019
Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show, Philadelphia Convention Center, Philadelphia, PA, 2018, 2022
Longs Park Art Festival, Lancaster, PA, 2022
Academy Art MuseumCraft Show, Academy Art Museum, Easton, MD, 2018, 2021
ACC - American Craft Made, Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, MD, 2022
Art From the Heartland, Indianapolis Arts Center, Indianapolis, IN, 2020
Art & Activism , Gallery 924, Arts Council of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, 2021