Linda Davenport
b. 1952, San Francisco ∙ CE artist since 1983
Photo by Evguenia Shtill
San Francisco native, Linda Davenport joined the Creativity Explored studio in 1983 when CE first opened. Exclusively a textile artist, Davenport is known for her organic, conical works she refers to as hats, but also creates quilts, dolls, and other similar artwork.
Davenport deftly stitches and manipulates jute, thread, fabric, and embroidery floss into soft sculptural forms. Davenport’s dexterous hands also serve as her chief mode of communication, but instead engages through her freeform textiles.
Starting with a base of neutral-toned textiles and cording, she paints her fabrics with carefully stitched, delicate, multi-colored dangling threads. Her textiles have a wonderful dimensional, tactile, and organic quality creating a sculpture of undulating waves and unique shadows. Davenport weaves together traditional and experimental techniques to create a folkloric hand-made aesthetic all her own. The artist can take months to complete a single piece, a result of her diligence and dedication to detail.
Select Exhibitions & Projects
2020
UNTITLED ART FAIR , San Francisco, CA
The park "a darling walk for the mind", Creativity Explored, San Francisco, CA
2015
Super Contemporary, Creativity Explored, San Francisco, CA
FiberSHED, Marin Community Foundation, Marin, CA
2013
Space, Creativity Explored, San Francisco, CA
2012
I have never really taken the time to look, Accident and Artifact
2010
Ritual/Habitual, Creativity Explored, San Francisco, CA
2008
Fibrocosm, Creativity Explored, San Francisco, CA
2006
Nature Rules, Creativity Explored, San Francisco, CA
Vessels, Creativity Explored, San Francisco, CA
2005
Wear to Go, Creativity Explored, San Francisco, CA
2004
Gesture, Creativity Explored, San Francisco, CA
Functionable, Creativity Explored, San Francisco, CA