Momma’s Right Here, 2026
Fiber Sculpture | Mixed Media
Sulky metallic rayon thread, dog hair, Lutradur, acrylic ink, and human ashes
12” Heigh x 20” Wide
A Commissioned Memorial Fiber Sculpture
Momma’s Right Here is a commissioned mixed media fiber sculpture that honors a beloved mother through deeply personal materials. I created an abstract DNA strand from metallic rayon thread and the family’s dog hair, then suspended it above a Rorschach-inspired blot made from Lutradur, acrylic ink, and a small portion of the client’s mother’s ashes.
A Family’s Request
Throughout my art career, I have had the privilege of creating deeply personal commissioned artworks. Momma’s Right Here stands among the most meaningful.
A client contacted me shortly after her mother’s passing with one request:
“Create something about my momma, who just recently died.”
She entrusted me with wooden spools of thread from her mother’s years of sewing, her mother’s eulogy, a published storybook she had written, a small amount of the family dog’s hair, and a packet containing her mother’s ashes.
It was the only packet she had.
Developing the Fiber Sculpture Process
The responsibility felt enormous.
I wanted to permanently incorporate the ashes into the sculpture without using glue. Because the ashes were irreplaceable—and because I planned to use only a small amount—I spent weeks experimenting with materials. I used sand because it shares a similar mineral composition with human bone, and I completed 76 separate tests before discovering the combination that achieved the result I envisioned: Lutradur and acrylic ink.
Only then did I begin the sculpture.
Symbolism Within the Artwork
I wove metallic thread from her mother’s sewing supplies into the DNA strand and added tiny tufts of the family dog’s hair to symbolize the lasting bond between people and the pets they love. I selected the colors from the pages of A Starfish Called Rhonda to celebrate the story she left behind for her grandchildren. As the wet ink interacted with the ashes, delicate flashes of light blue appeared naturally and became part of the finished artwork.
The Meaning Behind the Title
When my own children were young, I often comforted them by saying,
“Don’t worry, baby. Momma’s right here.”
As I completed this sculpture, those words became its title.
Honoring Memory Through Commissioned Art
Creating commissioned memorial artwork allows me to preserve stories, memories, and legacies through contemporary fiber sculpture. I feel deeply honored that this family trusted me with something so precious, and I remain grateful that the finished piece brought them comfort while celebrating a remarkable woman’s life.
View more of my Mixed Media work.
