Over the years her work, teaching and passion have introduced hundreds to the magic of fabric. ARTIST'S STATEMENT
"What I love most about textile art is the medium itself – the fabrics and threads available in such a glorious range of color and texture, luster and weave. I am enthralled by the magic of a pale glimmering sheer, the heavy soft richness of a bottle green velvet, the earthiness of co
arse hand-woven cotton. My fabric collection ranges from cottons and silks through all kinds of glitzy, gauzy sheers, laces, brocades and metallics. This provides me with an unlimited tactile palette of color, which I doubt any other medium could offer. Cutting, layering, manipulating, or embellishing this fabric medium to convey images and moods is a joyful and continually exciting challenge. My inspiration comes from many sources, and I am constantly mentally rendering into fabric, thoughts and images that capture my imagination. I do not want to be bound to explore one theme or one technique as what I am exploring is this medium of fabric – for me it offers the challenge, becomes the message, and is the reward." ABOUT LEELA
Leela Cherian has been quilting since 1980. Leela has had two solo exhibitions in India, at the Mahua Art Gallery in Bangalore (2010, 2013). She has had two solo exhibitions in the United States, at the Creative Partners Gallery in Bethesda, MD (2001, 2005) and two solo exhibitions in Kuwait, at the Kuwait Formative Arts Gallery (1996, 1999). Leela was part of a group of five quilt artists exhibiting at the McCrillis Gardens Gallery in Bethesda, MD, for five consecutive years (1999 – 2003). Her work has been published in Quilter's Newsletter (December 1990), American Quilter (Summer 1995) and World of Embroidery (March 1999, published by the Embroiderer's Guild of UK). Leela appeared on the HGTV show Simply Quilts (with Alex Anderson) to demonstrate one of her techniques (2001). Her quilt Two Pots was chosen for the Lark Books publication 500 Art Quilts – An Inspiring Collection of Contemporary Work (2010). "Ode to joy" features an interview with Leela in The Quilter (Autumn 2016, published by the Quilters' Guild of UK). Her work is held in several private collections throughout the world.
