Susan Dumas

My fascination with textiles began in childhood, riding in the backseat of my grandfather’s car perched atop his fabric sample books as he traveled to upholstery clients. Surrounded by texture, pattern, and color, I embraced an early and lasting sensitivity to textiles. That experience grew into a lifelong exploration, first through projects inspired by women’s magazines, and eventually into a fully realized
artistic practice.

Continued exploration has taken me to Florence, Italy, and Parsons School of Design, where I studied kimono construction and textile fabrication, expanding both my technical and conceptual approach. I have also lectured at the Fashion Institute of Technology, sharing my expertise with the next generation of designers and makers.

I have created commissioned and collaborative work for an esteemed range of institutions and  clients including the American Craft Museum in collaboration with Metropolitan Home Magazine, The Plaza Hotel, Lord & Taylor’s Christmas window, Spaeth Design, Felissimo, Metropolitan Life Building, Strawbridge & Clothier, Marshall Field’s, McCall’s Pattern Company, and Smith & Noble.

I have worked with numerous interior designers, including Timothy MacDonald and David Barrett, whose clientele includes prominent public figures.

My macramé and quilted kimono, Priest’s Winter Robe, was exhibited at The Textile Museum in Washington, D.C., as part of a major exhibition celebrating the diversity and artistry of kimono
construction.

My work has been featured in books, magazines, catalogues, and in The New York Times.
 

I have found a commonality of language between the tranquil nature of Japanese artistry and the spirituality depicted in the Native American and African cultures.

My creative vision is shaped by a four-year sojourn in Japan. The serenity I felt experiencing the Japanese concept of “less is more” is what I share through my art. Each piece embodies many of the same qualities of wabi-sabi and shibui—stark, quiet, simple, subtle, and imperfect.

The vintage textiles and objects I incorporate carry stories inviting us to honor the past as we move forward with our lives.