Claire Pongonis

Bio

Hi, I’m Claire! I proudly hail from the beautiful Ozark Mountains region of Arkansas, where I draw much of my inspiration. I specialize in embroidered thread paintings, blending traditional embroidery techniques with contemporary painting methods. With a background in Fine Art, my creative practice includes oil pastel, acrylic, and gouache. My work is characterized by vibrant colors, rich textures, and captivating details. I constantly explore new methods of creating and love to push the boundaries of my creative understanding to find something unique and magical. My curiosity leads me to travel frequently, but Fayetteville, Arkansas, is where I call home.

Artist Statement

My artwork is rooted in a deep appreciation for the natural world and the human experience. Currently, my focus is on embroidered landscapes, a medium through which I can explore the interplay of positive and negative space. These thread paintings showcase vibrant blocks of color sewn onto translucent fabric, allowing the negative space to play an integral role in the artwork. Using translucent fabric allows me to create a sense of depth and movement in my pieces are stitched with standard six-strand embroiders floss, which requires methodical layering to achieve the dense blocks of color and allows the individual threads to disappear into themselves. This exploration of repetition is reflected in the tradition of this medium and results in a contemporary, sweeping, textured portrayal of the natural world. The methodical process is a meditative practice foundational to my connection with each piece. My embroidered landscapes aim to capture the essence of the natural spaces that have moved me emotionally and spiritually while inviting viewers to see themselves and their experiences in the represented scenery. My goal is to create visually captivating and emotionally resonant pieces that inspire people to connect to the earth, themselves, and each other.