“I describe my work as ‘stealth art’: the comfortable ambiance of sewn cloth draws viewers in, where they are confronted with the often uncomfortable paradoxes of contemporary life. My work has developed in tandem with the art quilt movement, but I am one of the few artists making figurative sculpture in this medium. I use cloth to create an alternate universe, and the resulting work is full of contradictions: it is whimsical, edgy, mundane, surreal, and engaging, all at once. Each piece tells a story, but the narrative is always open to interpretation. The power and beauty of the patterned cloth surface play off the form and content of the work, and the result is a dynamic seesaw of meanings and possibilities.

I started this work in 1998, when I added 3D elements to a flat art quilt. I have shown nationally and internationally since then. My work is in public and private collections, and I have completed many commissioned pieces. I grew up in California, and Mendocino has been a favorite place since childhood. I have taught annually at the Art Center for a number of years.”

— Susan Else