Work samples

  • The Three Entangled Muses
    The Three Entangled Muses

    "The Three Muses Get Entangled ", 2024.

    Embroidery on organza and toile decor fabric

    23" x 23" x 2" 

    Available for Purchase
  • Warrior Bird Women : Westobou Installation
    Warrior Bird Women : Westobou Installation

    Healing Warrior Bird Women, Westobou Gallery Installation , Summer 2024

    Available for Purchase
  • Tangled Up In Blue
    Tangled Up In Blue

    Tangled Up In Blue , 2024

    Freemotion and Hand Embroidery on organza and toile decor fabric, on canvas with tassles. 

    62" x 56" x 5" 

     

    Photo by Joseph Hyde 

    Available for Purchase
  • I Bring Marshmallow to Your Fire
    I Bring Marshmallow to Your Fire

    I Bring Marshmallows to Your Fire , 2024

    Freemotion and hand embroidery on organza and toile decor fabric. 

    27" x 18" x 2" 

     

     

    Photo by Joseph Hyde 

    Available for Purchase

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About Jennifer

2024 OTW Artist   Baltimore City  

Jennifer McBrien, navigates the realm of embroidery with a skilled hand, intertwining freehand machine and hand stitching to create evocative portrayals of women, birds, and hybrid figures. Often featuring female bodies with bird heads, McBrien's compositions transcend traditional representations and delve into complex themes of femininity, liberation, and connection with nature. By incorporating the Toile pattern into her textile works, McBrien explores the historical and cultural… more

View Jennifer's Resume
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Warrior Bird Women Series

Warrior Women Series pushes the fabric beyond the hoop. Each piece includes a toile curtain panel hanging through a vintage embroidery hoop. Each panel becomes more aged (by dying with tea and grime) as the bird, represented by the head of the bird woman, becomes more endangered. The Ruff is the least endangered, and the Horned Grebe is the most vulnerable. The female bodies are taken from historical and contemporary paintings ranging from Ingres to Eric Fishel. Each bird woman is created with free-motion embroidery on organza fabric. Each warrior woman has a belly full of dried medicinal plants that would have been advantageous for me when I was treated for cancer. Threads from the warrior woman are sewn throughout the curtain panel to make subtle connections to the historical scenes found in the toile scene.

In this series, I invite the viewer to consider the relationship between the endangered species, the historical female body, and the broader themes of survival, healing, and transformation. The Warrior Women Series is not just an exploration of fragility; it is a testament to strength, continuity, and the power of narrative, both personal and universal.

  • Installation at Academy Art Musuem for Subversive Threads exhibit.
    Installation at Academy Art Musuem for "Subversive Threads" exhibit.
    Available for Purchase
  • Warrior Women Group
    Warrior Women Group

    Group of Four Original Warrior Women 

    Available for Purchase
  • Ruff Warrior Woman
    Ruff Warrior Woman

    Ruff Warrior Woman ,2024. Freehand machine embroidery on organza, with head appliquéd on toile decor fabric curtain , figure hangs freely from head down. Inside her belly is a collection of  dried mountain mint. 53" H x 36" W x 5”D

    Available for Purchase
  • Close up of dried Mountain Mint in Ruff Woman belly
    Close up of dried Mountain Mint in Ruff Woman belly
  • Thread connecting Ruff Woman to Toile
    Thread connecting Ruff Woman to Toile
  • Bicknell's Thrush Warrior Woman
    Bicknell's Thrush Warrior Woman

    Bicknell's Thrush Warrior Woman ,2024.  Freehand machine embroidery on organza, with head appliquéd on tea dyed toile decor fabric curtain , figure hangs freely from head down. Inside her belly is a collection of  dried iron weed. 53" H x 36" W x 5”D

    Available for Purchase
  • Golden Cheeked Warbler Woman
    Golden Cheeked Warbler Woman

    Golden Cheeked Warbler Woman, 2024. Freehand machine embroidery on organza, with head appliquéd on tea dyed toile decor fabric curtain , figure hangs freely from head down. Inside her belly is a collection of  dried nigella.

    53" H x 36" W x 5”D

    Available for Purchase
  • Horned Grebe Warrior Woman
    Horned Grebe Warrior Woman

    Horned Grebe Warrior Woman , 2024. Freehand machine embroidery on organza, with head appliquéd on tea and burnt pot grime dyed toile decor fabric curtain , figure hangs freely from head down. Inside her belly is a collection of  dried nigella.

    53" H x 36" W x 5”D

    Available for Purchase
  • Horned Grebe Warrior Woman detail with milkweed
    Horned Grebe Warrior Woman detail with milkweed

    Horned Grebe Warrior Woman detail with milkweed 

    Available for Purchase
  • Preliminary Drawings on paper and Stitched on Organza
    Preliminary Drawings on paper and Stitched on Organza

    Preliminary Drawings on paper and Stitched on Organza

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    • Peeling off the Walls

    This series draws inspiration from the concept of torn wallpaper, symbolizing the act of peeling away layers to reveal glimpses of historical life. Throughout the fabric's narrative, a red or blue thread is intricately woven, symbolizing connection, blindfolding, guidance, and the complexities of interpersonal relationships. It wraps around arms and fingers, pushing and pulling, telling a story of both connection and isolation—a continual yearning for communication despite differing perspectives.

    The hybrid bird women, crafted through freehand machine stitching on organza, serve as guardians, prognosticators, and soothsayers. Strategically hand-sewn onto specific areas of the composition, they contribute to the narrative of the artwork. .

     

    • Tangled Up in Blue
      Tangled Up in Blue

      Freemotion and hand embroidery are on organza, and toile decor fabric is on canvas. 

      56" W x 66"H x 2"D

       

      Available for Purchase
    • Faraway So Close
      Faraway So Close

      Freehand machine embroidery on organza for hybrid bird women with hand embroidery on toile remnants and felt pieced together and appliquéd onto canvas. Stretched on 54" X 54" heavy-duty stretcher strips.  Completed 2024

      The title alludes to Wim Wenders' film of the same name, exploring the polarities within a newly unified Berlin and reflecting on the contrasting aspects of contemporary life.

      The final piece is stretched on a 54" x 54" frame, with parts extending about 18" below and 2" off the sides, creating a visually striking and immersive composition

      Photography by Joseph Hyde

      Available for Purchase
    • detail , Tangled up in Blue
      detail , "Tangled up in Blue"

      Detail of freemotion embroidery on organza that is layered over toile decor fabric. 

    • Tangled up in Blue , detail
      "Tangled up in Blue" , detail

      Detail of freemotion embroidery on organza that is layered over toile decor fabric. 

    • detail, Tangled up in Blue
      detail, "Tangled up in Blue"

      Detail of organza overlay with freemotion embroidery, blue thread and tassle.

    • Detail: Faraway so Close
      Detail: Faraway so Close

      Detail of layering effect of organza and hand embroidery

       

      Photography by Joseph Hyde 

    • Faraway So Close, detail
      Faraway So Close, detail

      Detail of layering effect of organza and hand embroidery 

       

      Photography by Joseph Hyde

    • Faraway So Close, detail
      Faraway So Close, detail
    • Faraway So Close, detail
      Faraway So Close, detail

      Detail of layering effect of organza and hand embroidery 

       

      Photography by Joseph Hyde

    • Faraway So Close, work in progress
      Faraway So Close, work in progress

      Once the piece was stretched on the stretchers strips, I was able to lay the pipe on my work table to add hand embroidered details. 

    •

    • They Come in Three

    They Come in Threes is my play of the three graces. Drawing upon the historical symbolism associated with the three graces, I sought to embody positive and uplifting emotions, values, and qualities within my bird-woman.

    • The Three Entagled Muses
      The Three Entagled Muses

      Three bird-headed figures intertwine with each other. Hand Embroidered bird heads include the Black-neck Stilt, Chinese Goose, and Indian Peafowl. Figures are based on Icelandic artist Hildur Erna Villiblom and are created with free motion and hand embroidery appliqued on toile decor fabric. 

      23" x 23" x 2" 

       

      Created 2024

       

      Photography by Joseph Hyde 

       

    • detail, The Entangled Muses
      detail, The Entangled Muses

      detail of Hand Embroidered bird heads 

    • The Healing Three Graces, 2022
      The Healing Three Graces, 2022

      The Healing Three Graces, 2022. Freehand machine and hand embroidery on organza and cotton on decor fabric. Stretched in a vintage wooden embroidery hoop. 23" X 23" X 1.5"

       

      Photography by Joseph Hyde 

    • Hummingbird Woman detail
      Hummingbird Woman detail

      Hand embroidered head and wings. 

       

      Photography by Joseph Hyde 

    • The Earth's Three Graces, 2022
      The Earth's Three Graces, 2022

      Freehand machine and hand embroidery on organza and cotton, appliquéd on decor fabric. Stretched in a vintage wooden embroidery hoop. 23" X 23" X 1.5"

       

      Photography by Joseph Hyde 

      Available for Purchase
    • Fighting Three Graces detail
      Fighting Three Graces detail

      Hand embroidered bird heads.

      Photography by Joseph Hyde 

    • Barn Owl Woman detail
      Barn Owl Woman detail

      Hand embroidered barn owl head 

       

      Photography by Joseph Hyde 

    • Preliminary Sketch for Fighting Three Graces
      Preliminary Sketch for Fighting Three Graces

    • The Guardians

    In these works, my bird women engage with scenes depicted in decor toile fabrics. The toile scenes serve as a symbolic reference to humanity's progressive encroachment on natural landscapes and the resulting consequences of exploiting Earth's resources. This series portrays the beginning of humanity's exploitation and pilfering of the Earth's resources, prompting my bird warriors to intervene, educate, and safeguard the future.

    Continuing my technique from previous works, I employ freehand machine stitching with black thread to outline the figures on cotton or organza. Subsequently, hand embroidery is used to introduce color, intricate details, and form to both the birds and the bird heads within the figures. This dual approach adds depth and nuance to the narrative, enhancing the visual impact of the artwork.

    • Ms. Spoonbill Goes to Battle
      Ms. Spoonbill Goes to Battle

      Freehand machine stitched line work with hand embroidered painting of bird heads and birds, on cotton appliquéd on toile decor fabric curtain panel. Stretched in a 18" x 18" vintage embroidery hoop. 2023

      Available for Purchase
    • Ms. Spoonbill Goes to Battle, detail
      Ms. Spoonbill Goes to Battle, detail

      Ms. Spoonbill Goes to Battle, detail showing hand embroidery 

    • Under the Bushes
      Under the Bushes

      Bird women are created with freemotion machine stitching for line work and hand embroidery for color heads. Figures are appliquéd on barkcloth and toile decor with color shade added with organza  

       

      Stretched in a 20” x 12” x 1” wooden embroidery hoop.

      2023

       

      Photography by Joseph Hyde 

      Available for Purchase
    • Under the Bushes, detail
      Under the Bushes, detail

      Under the Bushes, detail showing hand embroidery 

    • The Guardians
      The Guardians

      Figures are created with freemotion machine stitching for line work. Bird women have hand embroidered "tattoos" that are renderings of the pattern from toile fabric . Stretched and framed in vintage 23" embroidery hoop. 

       

      Photography by Joseph Hyde 

      Available for Purchase
    • The Guardians, detail
      The Guardians, detail

      The Guardians, detail  showing hand embroidery 

    • Ms. Sage Grouse and the Woodcock Try to Save the Day
      Ms. Sage Grouse and the Woodcock Try to Save the Day

      "Ms. Sage Grouse. and the Woodcock Try to Save The Day" is a fiber piece that features freehand machine and hand embroidery . A seated Sage Grouse woman is a freehand machine stitched on organza that is then appliqued and reinforced stitch onto Toile decor fabric that was originally a proper drape. Her head is hand embroidered, layering color embroidery thread to create depth and form. She sits on a manhole cover created with freehand machine stitching on felt. She sits opposite of an American Woodcock, created by freehand machine painting, creating color and depth by layering color threads. He also stands on a felt manhole cover, freehand stitched on the sewing machine. All added features are appliqued and reinforced stitched onto the upcycled curtain. 

      The Final piece is stretched onto an 18" X 9" half circle wooden, vintage embroidery hoop.This piece was completed in 2022.

       

      Photography by Joseph Hyde 

       

       

       

      The Final piece is stretched onto an 18" X 9" half circle wooden, vintage embroidery hoop.This piece was completed in 2022.

      Available for Purchase
    • Sage Grouse Detail
      Sage Grouse Detail

    • The Red Line Knows

    • Golden-Cheeked Warbler Warrior Woman Makes her Mark
      Golden-Cheeked Warbler Warrior Woman Makes her Mark
      Available for Purchase
    • Ruff Warrior Woman The Puppeteer
      Ruff Warrior Woman The Puppeteer
      Available for Purchase
    • Northern Mockingbird Warrior Gets it Done
      Northern Mockingbird Warrior Gets it Done
      Available for Purchase
    • Horned Grebe Warrior Woman Pushes and Pulls
      Horned Grebe Warrior Woman Pushes and Pulls
      Available for Purchase
    • American Woodcock Warrior Enforces Her Method for Equality
      American Woodcock Warrior Enforces Her Method for Equality
      Available for Purchase
    • Golden Cheeked Warble Warrior Works on her Support System
      Golden Cheeked Warble Warrior Works on her Support System
      Available for Purchase
    • Ruff the Supporter & Puppeteer II
      Ruff the Supporter & Puppeteer II
      Available for Purchase
    • Bicknell's Thrush Warrior Woman Wants to Reason
      Bicknell's Thrush Warrior Woman Wants to Reason
      Available for Purchase
    •

    • In Dialogue

    This series merges the original figure with the hybrid bird woman, a creation inspired by the figure itself. Utilizing free-motion embroidery on organza, cotton, or felt, I rendered each element—figures, birds, and plants. The technique adds a dynamic and textured quality to the pieces, enhancing the visual impact of the entire series. Notably, all the works in this series were brought to life in 2023, showcasing a cohesive exploration of form, symbolism, and embroidery techniques within a single creative period.

     

     

     

     


     

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    • Hanging them Out to Dry , 2019-present

    “Hanging Them Out to Dry, a visceral commentary on the plight of endangered birds. Hung on a clothesline, embroidered vintage napkins evoke a sense of vulnerability, emphasizing the urgent need for conservation efforts to safeguard threatened species from extinction.”- The Academy Art Museum

    This piece is an ongoing piece that was installed and documented throughout numerous areas of the Château De Bouthonvillers in Dangeau, France, during my artist residency (Atelier Artist in Residency Program) in October 2023. I also had the opportunity to collaborate with composer Adina Forsberg of Stockholm, Sweden. This first video of my project is the result of this project. It has since been part of the “Subversive Threads” exhibit, first installed at the Westboro Gallery in Augusta, Georgia before its installation at the Academy Art Museum where it currently hangs until March 30, 2025.

     

    • "Hanging Them Out to Dry" film

      Jennifer McBrien started her hand-embroidered bird project in 2019 to honor the diminishing bird population occurring due to Climate Warming. Her birds are embroidered on vintage linens that she received from people's collections of family heirlooms. Adena Forsberg's composition of Arvegods (Heritage) is a contemporary interpretation of two pieces of folk music, both from Norrbottenn. It's a place  County in Swedewhere communities grow smaller, where stores close, and where traditions and history get lost with each generation. In Arvegods, the music mirrors the melancholy and sadness that, no matter the metaphors, are so innately human. Who will mourn our lost heritage if no one knows what is lost? McBrien and Forsberg met in October 2023 during a three-week Atelier Artist Residency at the Chateau Bouthonvilliers, a castle not far from Chartres, France. The artists found a partnership in marrying their work together.

    • Installation in front yard of Installation at Chateau Bouthonvillier
      Installation in front yard of Installation at Chateau Bouthonvillier
    • Installation at Chateau Bouthonvilliers Gates
      Installation at Chateau Bouthonvilliers Gates
    • IMG_0868.jpeg
      IMG_0868.jpeg

      Hand Embroidered birds on vintage linen napkins, Installed at the Chapel at Château De Bouthonvillers, Dangeau, France. October 26, 2023. Part of the Atelier Artist in Residency Program.

    • Westobou Gallery Installation
      Westobou Gallery Installation

      Westobou  Gallery Installation, Augusta, Georgia. Part of the Subversive Thread show, Summer 2024

    • Belted Kingfisher
      Belted Kingfisher

      Belted Kingfisher , hand embroidered on vintage linen

    • Hanging them out to Dry, Wood Duck .jpg
      Hanging them out to Dry, Wood Duck .jpg
      Hand embroidery on vintage linen napkin
    • Hanging them out to Dry Barn Owl , 2019
      "Hanging them out to Dry" Barn Owl , 2019
      Hand Embroidered Barn Owl on vintage linen napkin
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