Untitled (looking East)

Oshkosh-born and raised artist Michelle Grabner plays many roles in the arts in the midwest and the country, from artist, teacher and curator to parent, homeowner and gardener. Grabner draws from each of her realms of activity, life experience and work practices to produce paintings, sculpture and weavings. She uses domestic textiles (baby blankets, kitchen towels, kaftans) as the stencil for paintings, capturing their irregularities and glitches.

Grabner elevates hand-made, hand-me-down fabrics to fine art. In her process of translating soft fibers into durable material, she creates a modern-day version of the marble cloaks of classic Greek gods and goddesses. Grabner reminds us to honor the art works that populate our everyday lives.