Nicole Dunn is an award winning fiber artist with quilts published in “Quilt” magazine, “Patchwork Tsushin” and most recently in the “Australian Patchwork and Quilting” magazine. She began quilting with the birth of her first child in 1988. After seeing an exhibit in New York City of Nancy Crows art quilts in 1992, she realized that fiber could be used to create art, and set herself on a path to create one of a kind art quilts to be enjoyed on the wall. To date, she has created many commissioned works that are unique to each client’s needs and wants, as well as developed her own style of art quilts reflecting her daily life and inspirations.
Teaching
Nicole has taught countless different technique and art quilt classes in Los Alamos and Santa Fe since 1997. She is known for her unique way of thinking, use of fabric, and technique. She is able to teach traditional quilt styles and patterns, as well as using a photograph to be interpreted in fabric among others to all levels of interested sewers.
Speaking engagements and memberships
Nicole has been the guest speaker for the Los Alamos Piecemakers Guild and the Northern New Mexico Quilt Guild, as well as member of both organizations for many years.
She is also a member of Studio Art Quilter’s Association and has been for several years.
Nicole’s work
Nicole’s work can be found in private collections all over the world including China, Argentina, Chile, Guatemala, and Germany, as well as in Santa Fe, Los Alamos, Albuquerque and several states in the USA. As an example, two large quilts were commissioned for the United Church in Santa Fe, one titled “Adoration Point” and the other “St. Francis and St. Claire,” generally on display for church members for St. Francis’s feast day in October each year.
Some of her latest work focuses on the use of silk, and exploring the use of traditional quilt patterns in a nontraditional way. She hopes to use the quilt as an art form to find her voice.
Exhibitions and Publications
Current: Owner of Dunn Quilting Studio, dedicated to providing long-arm quilting services and quilting classes.
March 2015: featured in Australian Patchwork and Quilting Magazine, in an article titled “Let’s talk Art Quilts”
2014: exhibited at Hubbard Museum of the American West, in Ruidoso, NM in a SAQA show titled, “Beyond Tradition”
June 2013: Solo exhibition at Fuller Lodge Art Center, Los Alamos, NM titled, ” Bits and Pieces.”
1997 to 2012: Owner of Dunn Quilting, a quilt shop catered to long-arm quilting, commission quilting and the sale of my own traditional quilts and art quilts.
September, 2010 –Juror for the upcoming show “Fall, Fiber, Fashion” at Fuller Lodge Art Center, Los Alamos, NM.
June 2010—Quilts and interview published in the magazine “Patchwork Tsushin” No. 156
October, 2009–First place winner of viewer’s choice award at the Los Alamos Quilters guild Quilt show in the Wall Art Category.
August 2009—exhibit at the Branigan Cultural Center in Las Cruces NM entitled “Light Fantastic” with other artists of the Studio Art Quilters’ Association.
August 2008—exhibition entitled “New Mexico Fabrications-Art Quilts by New Mexico Art Quilters” at the Capitol Rotunda Gallery at the State Capitol Building in Santa Fe, NM.
November and December 2007—Quilts accepted and displayed at the Gallery in Madrid, NM.
March 2006—exhibit entitled “Earth, Wind, Fire, and Water” a show of members of the Studio Art Quilter’s Association at Fuller Lodge Art Center.
2006—exhibit at the Branigan Cultural Center in Las Cruces NM entitled “Shades of Grey.”
2005—Article and interview published in the “On Track” magazine regarding the winning quilt of Machine Quilter’s Showcase in Overland Park, Missouri
January 2005—participant in the “Colors of Enchantment” exhibit at UNM-LA.
October 2004– first place winner at the Quilt Fiesta in Santa Fe, NM in the Bed quilts category for “Before and After” as well as the Viewer’s choice category for “Kelly’s Frogs.”
August 2004—Quilt accepted to the “Fabric Fantasy” show at Fuller Lodge Art Center, Los Alamos, NM.
September 2004 –Participant in the Piecemakers Quilt guild show. First place winner in the viewer’s choice category in the special exhibit entitled “Texture.”
May 2004—Quilt exhibited in the show Machine Quilter’s Showcase, Overland Park, Missouri. Winner of teacher’s award for “Windy Day” and first place winner in the Overall Category for “Starlight Retreat”
April 2004—semi finalist in the American Quilter’s Society 20th Annual Quilt contest in Paducah KY with the quilt entitled “Marrie’s Poppy”
Two years in a row– invitational show at the Alegre Retreat at the Santa Fe Convention Center, Santa Fe, NM hosted by Katie Pasquini Masopust.
April 2003—semi finalist in the American Quilter’s Society 19th Annual Quilt contest, in Paducah KY with the quilt entitled “Margaret’s Flowers”
May 2003—quilt entitled “vegetable brain” accepted and exhibited in the Fiber Arts Fiesta in Albuquerque, NM.
August 2003—invitational show for the exhibit entitled “Wood and Fiber” at Galeria El Jardin which resulted in future shows at the gallery.
September 2001—published in “Quilt” magazine with quilts and artist profile/interview.
May 2001—quilt entitled “Midnight Spider” accepted to the exhibit Fiber Arts Fiesta in Albuquerque NM.
January 2001—exhibit at Fuller Lodge Art Center
January 1997—exhibition entitled “Pieces from the Heart, Quilts by the Los Alamos Piecemakers” at the Fuller Lodge Art Center.
Lodge Art Center, in Los Alamos NM entitled “Pieces from the Heart 2”
1996—quilt published in the book titled “Fractured Landscape Quilts” by Katie Pasquini Masopust.