REGINA DURANTE JESTROW

My work is a personal and playful exploration, stretching and challenging quilt forms and structures while considering the activist values that shaped historic quilt-making traditions. I build my textile-based works by stitching together long strips of fabric and hundreds of triangles, using repetition, precision, and improvisation as guiding forces. Through this process, I transform traditional craft techniques into layered, abstract compositions that merge geometry with personal symbolism. Alongside my quilts, I create intimate works on paper - watercolors and pastels that echo my textile works' pattern and color sensibilities.

I incorporate hand-dyed fabrics, repurposed clothing, and textiles collected from friends and thrift shops to create rich surfaces full of personal and cultural resonance. These materials speak to the urgency of textile waste and connect my work to the material culture of my Miami surroundings. Drawing from the city’s vibrant landscape, I blend organic geometry with bold, tropical color palettes to create visual rhythm and a sense of transformation. Unconventional materials like repurposed neoprene, sequins, and faux leather inject an unexpected twist—part homage to Miami’s pop culture pulse, part playful experimentation with texture and shine.

My artistic journey is deeply rooted in a reverence for American folk art quilts and an admiration for geometric abstraction in the mid-to-late twentieth century. I draw inspiration from visionaries such as the Gee's Bend quilters, Anni Albers, Rosie Lee Tompkins, and Gego, whose work bridges the gap between craft and abstraction. Their influence is a rich tapestry that informs my approach to pattern, color, and structure, guiding me to create quilts infused with personal symbolism and narratives, inviting connection and contemplation.

-Regina Durante Jestrow