Created specifically for presentation in Chicago, High-Rise Expectations is a contemporary fiber art work that celebrates the city while reflecting my hopes of becoming part of its larger art community. The title carries a second meaning: the buildings of the Chicago skyline represent new relationships, new opportunities, and the possibility of finding a place within a broader community of artists.
The stitched skyline rises above Lake Michigan, with the architecture rendered entirely in thread. From a distance, High-Rise Expectations resembles a familiar Chicago skyline. Up close, however, the work reveals an unexpected dimensional quality. Subtle undulations in the stitched structures transform the buildings from flat representations into sculptural forms, allowing light and shadow to move across the surface.
Constructed entirely from 100% thread, this work continues my exploration of thread as a sculptural material. Through line, texture, depth, and shadow, I push embroidery and fiber art beyond the traditional picture plane and into three-dimensional space. The result is a piece of contemporary textile art that transforms a recognizable urban landscape through an unconventional material.
In High-Rise Expectations, a city built of steel, concrete, and glass is rebuilt in thread—one stitch at a time.
