Artist Profile

Maryland artist Eileen Williams widens the conventional boundaries of fabric as a medium, by using fabric as her color paint palette to create one of a kind art.

If you think you have seen every style of art there is, in past art shows, websites, galleries, then you may want to take a look at Eileen’s one of a kind fabric and mixed-media art. Using yards of toile, to contemporary fibers, to whimsical textiles, fabric is stretched, canvas style, over triangle, rectangle or square wooden frames. Her work consists of layers of intricate geometric fabric covered shapes, sometimes including embedded fabric covered faces, producing movement and three-dimensional effects, some pieces taking up to a month or more to complete.

Although a self-taught artist Eileen earned an Associates Degree in Arts from Baltimore City Community College, crediting the college with exposing her to the various mixed- media that she used in her paintings and sculpturing. In the 1980s  Eileen worked for a company where she learned the technique of covering commercial life-sized fiberglass animals with upholstery fabric, to emulate animal skins. Not knowing then, this meticulous technique of covering objects with fabric, along with her background in painting and sculpturing would be combined in her work today producing unique artwork.

Eileen’s work has been exhibited in galleries, public spaces and art venues located in
Virginia, Washington DC, Maryland, New York and Connecticut. Some of the highlights are: exhibiting at the Baltimore World Trade Center in 2011; 2012 debuting as a solo artist in two shows in New York, the Contemporary Art Fair at Jacob Javits Center and Parallax Art Fair in SoHo, also in this year Alexandria, VA at The Torpedo Factory Art Center. In Washington DC 2013, art was displayed at the International Vision Gallery and The Italian Embassy, also for The 10th Annual Blue Jeans Ball fundraiser benefiting the DC Capital Food Bank, Eileen was one of three, featured artist chosen for her original denim fabric-mixed media art which was auctioned off. Another highlight event for 2013 was being included in the book, The Mixed-Media Artist, Art Tips, Tricks, Secrets and Dreams From 40 Amazing Artists, by author/artist, Seth Apter. pages 124 & 139. One of Eileen’s most memorable shows in 2014 was solo artist exhibiting 35 pieces at the University of Virginia McIntire School of Commerce’s Connaughton Gallery. One of her sales included a purchase by the University. Her best highlight for 2015 was returning to New York to exhibit at Artexpo New York 2015 (Solo division). Eileen has been included in another book publication that became available February 2016 titled, The Woven Tale Press Selected Works 2015 printed edition, pages 116-117. More of Eileen’s exhibiting journey through 2023 can be seen in her resume, website ( www.elwilliamsart.com ) and facebook site ( https://www.facebook.com/eileen.williams.98892 )

“How amazing it feels and a blessing to exhibit my work”, Eileen states. She explains, "being a 2 time breast cancer survivor once in 2009, the 2nd time in 2022, exhibiting my work is truly a blessing. A blessing because surviving cancer is not easy, between chemo, radiation and side effects, it takes a toll on you. So when I can continue creating art, encourage others, evoke conversation, stimulate and engage others, it's more than a business venture, it is connecting with others too through exhibiting and that is my blessing."