Taylor Childs

Artist and proud Detroit native (American, 1995) Taylor Childs explores themes of; identity within self and family, the after effects of the African Diaspora; the perception of people, consumerism and constructs of race within supremacist systems, and bling culture. Translating these themes into a narrative where they are applied to explorations of fabric manipulation through textile tradition in order to create a dialogue representing the complexities of African American life.

Childs received a B.F.A. from College for Creative Studies, in Detroit, MI. During her time at College for Creative Studies, she interned with local artists such as Carole Harris, and Tiff Massey. In 2018 Childs became a Crafts and Fibers art teacher at University Prep: Art and Design, teaching 9th-12th grade Crafts and Fibers. As well as teaching various art programs such Hope for Flowers by designer Tracy Reese in 2020-current. College for Creative Studies pre-college fiber program, 2023. Childs recently curated an exhibition named After Effects held at Patch and Remington Gallery located in Marcellus MI. In 2021 Childs showed work at Art Prize, in Grand Rapids, MI. Childs actively participates in the Month of Design sponsored by Design Core. Some of the shows include Footlocker Sneaker House; 2020, 2022. Design In the City: Trunk Show, 2020. In 2022 she held her first solo exhibition at the Roasting Plant, Detroit Mi. Some other shows include Unraveled. Restructured. Revealed. Trout Museum of Art, Appleton, WI. In 2021 she participated in a Group Show called In this House. Curated by Art Mile: Library Street Collective, located in Detroit, MI. In 2021 Childs had a Solo Residency at the Siren Hotel through Patch and Remington Gallery. In 2023 she received the Detroit Artist Market, Annual Scholarship Awards and Exhibition. Best of Show. In 2022 she received the Inspiring Educator Award from Scholastic Art and Writing. In 2021 she received the Red Bull House of Art Microgrant in Detroit Michigan. Childs has obtained her MFA in the Fiber Department at Cranbrook Academy of Art, 2024.

ARTIST STATEMENT:

My grandmother would wrap the couch to protect it.
She would pray in the car, for coverage over her whole family.
To be blood meant to protect lineage, legacy, and honor the resilience in black people.

I am a storyteller. I pull from my family's archive, what I see to be true. I work between a range of mediums including wearable art, quilts, and manipulating found materials.

I explore and reflect on the Diaspora, and themes of class, identity, social justice, safety and mental health.

I create memory and stories by stitching and mending polyester. Material has dialogue with form. I use manipulation of textiles as a tool. Textiles are an archive. Slashing, Ripping, Painting, Mending, Embellishing.

Laughter vs. Screaming.
Legacy vs Generational Curse.

I burn polyester and stitch rigorously to mend harm. I embellish cheap muslin to add value. I paint to depict what melanin really looks like. What Blackness is. Vast, complicated.

I tell real stories in my work