Helen Parsons is a self-taught, process-driven, multi-disciplinary visual artist with a focus in fiber arts.
Helen became immediately enthralled with the endless possibility of textile art at the age of five, and dove head first into everything she could learn as fast as she could. Even at a young age, Helen often deconstructed garments and costumes to understand the construction process and memorized properties of different textiles to test theories. Raised in a military family, travels and interaction with people from all walks of life set the groundwork for her need to communicate experiences artistically. In high school in the San Francisco Bay Area, exposure to fine art museums made Helen an avid fan of both classic and modern art. Emulating her art heroes by experimenting with color and texture led to a desire to transition her knowledge of textiles into its use as a fine art medium.
With 45+ years in textile exploration and a lifetime studying contemporary art, Helen enjoys the discipline of traditional sewing techniques but continuously finds herself challenging those long established rules and boundaries through her work.
Frequently, Helen’s themes incorporate narratives of urban living and the complexities of wanting to be both anonymous and feel acknowledged.
Her works range from large abstract 3D sculptures, storytelling through collage, ethereal installations, highly textured 2D surfaces, to delicate figurative thread sketches. She tends to use any tool necessary to convey her message, incorporating techniques learned from using other media. Her process is largely intuitive, loosely developed concepts often become a jumping off point and flexes as the work is being created. Her most recent work alters the surface of cotton textiles through bold color in acrylic painting, layers of texture and dense, detailed stitching.
Helen is a full-time artist, an avid community arts advocate, teacher and gallery curator living in Spokane WA for 20+ years. Her work is collected internationally and in private and public collections.