Dedicating over 20 years to working with fabric, Kestrel Michaud is a distinguished expert in fine art quilting and fabric illustration. While her work fits under the “art quilt” umbrella, her unique style leans toward imaginative realism. Michaud identifies as an outlier in her field, with only a handful of other quilt artists working in similar styles worldwide.
Michaud’s professional career as a fine art quilter and fabric illustrator began in 2017, and she has since become well-known for her intricate designs and mindful attention to detail. She shares her extensive portfolio of work for sale online, selling quilts inspired by everything from video games and pop culture to nature and beyond. Her website also serves as a blog, providing monthly newsletters, instructional videos, and online classes.
From Fabric Introduction to Fabric Expert
During high school, Michaud was first introduced to creating fabric pictures. She quickly showcased her talent before graduation, winning over 50 local, regional, and national awards for her art. This included a grand prize (a magenta-colored bicycle) from the Rails to Trails organization and a grand prize in the student art competition, where she won two full passes to the 62nd World Science Fiction Convention.
Michaud’s educational background has aided her professional career. She graduated with honors from Ringling College of Art and Design, a private art and design school in Sarasota, Florida, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2010.
After graduation, Michaud began her career in graphic design, leveraging her creativity to succeed in this field. However, a year later, she returned to the art form of quilt making, where she focused more on her efforts.
Since Michaud launched her art quilting career, her works have been juried into global exhibitions. She has recently won two grand prizes at two different events and was awarded the Best Wall Quilt at the AQS Paducah Quilt Show in Paducah, Kentucky, receiving a $5,000 prize. At the International Quilt Festival in Houston, Texas, Michaud earned the Master Award for Contemporary Artistry, which was another $5,000 grand prize. Her work has also been featured on The Quilt Show and Quilting Arts TV on PBS.
Other Forms of Dedication
As a part of her continued success, Michaud is an active member of multiple industry-related organizations, including the American Quilter’s Society and the Florida Artists Group. She also serves on the board of directors of the Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA), an international organization whose mission is to find acceptance for art quilts within the broader fine art community.
Michaud credits her success to her mother, who initially introduced Michaud to art while growing up. She is grateful for her remarkable support system at home as she continues to grow and is particularly thankful for the ongoing support and constructive feedback from her husband, Alex.
Looking to the future, Michaud envisions furthering her professional career and success, garnering additional accolades and a Best of Show Award for her artistic abilities.
