Teresa Shields

April 24 – May 16, 2026

Fabric, thread, and wool fiber

Artist Statement

Teresa Shields seamlessly weaves her fascination with fabric, thread, and wool fiber into a unique and colorful artistic journey. Her work invites viewers into the intricate world of embroidery where she skillfully interprets abstract shapes suggesting fertility discovered in fruit. Drawing inspiration from nature's intricate designs-plant forms, human eyes, and cell structures-her embroideries unfurl deliberately, each stitch, knot, and hue a mindful decision - a slow yet relentless process moving forward. Through wet felting, she embraces the alchemy of transforming wool fibers into solid, yet tender, hollow forms, unraveling new dimensions in materiality. In contrast to embroidery, her felt making is a symphony of unpredictability, embracing the mathematics and chaos of creation-an art form that misbehaves yet is cherished unequivocally. Shields' work, marked by her distinct hand, skill, and vision, radiates a blend of quirky humor and sheer joy in creating something exquisitely beautiful. 

I Feel Seen presents the artist's unique perspective and unrivaled craftsmanship as she draws attention to the female gaze. Through sculpted wool felt and intricate embroidery, Shields utilizes the traditional handiwork of women to create highly conceptual and unexpected objects that simultaneously evoke amusement and discomfort. Acknowledging that women are watched and judged their whole lives often without really being seen, this body of work encourages a reckoning with women's existence in the world and their determination to create art that speaks to their own experience - unfiltered through a male gaze. Shields' sculptural eyeballs follow and see the audience in a way that allows them to be observed while actively returning attention. The artist's sculpted necklaces connect her process to the earliest adornment of human bodies and the manner in which women use external objects of beauty to create meaning. 

Inspired by the artist Hilma af Klint, Shields utilizes circles, sacred geometry, abstract shapes, and a symbolic color palette for a higher purpose. Like Klint's paintings, which were disregarded in her time for their feminine, spiritual, and abstract qualities, Shields' installations harness the colors blue (feminine), yellow (masculine) and pink (love) to speak of ethereal and human connection. Shields' work is also highly influenced by her martial arts practice, which depends on balance, circular motion, and discipline. Similarly, the artist's studio practice is meditative, self-directed, and dedicated. Through daily practice and creation, Shields combines female energy, color, and form to create work that celebrates the feminine and elevates the artistic practice itself.