SUZANNE CONNORS | FIBER ARTIST

Formerly an interior designer, a construction project manager and then Fine Art Gallery Owner and Director, Suzanne Connors has always loved art and textiles. Suzanne has maintained an active fiber art studio since 2008. Her academic background in architecture and design lays the groundwork for her practice using traditional shibori techniques. Creating a body of detail design, establishing order, combining simple techniques, textures and using design repetition are foundations of her work. Suzanne enjoys sharing her passion for texture, color, and pattern through her artwork and while teaching workshops.

*My name is Suzanne Connors and I am a Fiber Artist!*
I love art and I have always enjoyed making art. I have tried many different mediums but always return to fiber and textile art. I am a seamstress and a designer and I have always been intrigued by textiles; and especially if the fiber has a beautiful texture that makes you want to reach out and touch it! I love layering color and combining different tactile fibers.
*My work is inspired by my life in South Florida and my times living in the Caribbean islands. I am drawn to the colors of a setting sun and the Indigo blues of the sky and the sea.*
What I love about fiber art is the surprise element, the mixture of the fabric, the way that the dye and the resist creates different combinations and patterns that are only revealed at the final step. The magic when the freshly dyed indigo comes out of the vat and turns from green to blue right before your eyes! It is always a surprise when I unwrap a freshly dyed piece of fabric! Like opening a Christmas Gift! Another thing I love about fiber is that there are no "mistakes"! It is just like life; everything is always subject to change, and the mistakes lead to growth in my art. The imperfections are all part of the creative process. I typically use African Adinka symbols as inspirations in my batik prints and create my own stamps.
*I am always learning new techniques and experimenting with them. Every piece created is a unique one of a kind original!*

TEACHING Experience and INQUIRIES:

Suzanne’s teaching experience includes studio and professional practices at institutions throughout the U.S.

These include The Arrowmont School of Art & Craft, (Gatlinburg, TN,) River Ridge Retreat Center, (Menominee, WI,) Carborro Art Center, (Carborro, NC,) Morakami Japanese Museum, (Palm Beach County, FL,) Foosaner Museum, (Melbourne, FL,) Lighthouse Art Center, (Tequesta, FL), Appalachian Center for Craft (Smithville, TN), Olives Porch (a John C Campbell outreach center in Murphy, NC) and the Aya Fiber Studio ( Stuart FL and Murphy NC); her own studio, where she hosts national and international artists who give workshops to over 500 students from all over the country each year. Suzanne is the Founder and past President of the Martin Artisans Guild, sits on the board for SPIN (silk painters international) and is the South Florida Regional representative for Surface Design Association.

Suzanne teaches at the Aya Fiber Studio, but welcomes inquiries from other venues during summer months. Teaching Inquiries from both National or International from overseas facilitators are welcome and information will be sent as regards venue requirements and equipment. Dyes and auxiliary materials must be ordered in by the venue. I will provide all the details. Workshops can be held just about anywhere as long as certain venue requirements are met and there is adequate space and equipment.

Please contact Suzanne to find out more.

Visit Suzanne Connors at The Aya Fiber Studio in Stuart Florida as she explains the indigo and shibori fiber techniques she uses to create her work.

Portfolio of completed works