There is an inherent intimacy when working on a small canvas. That intimacy extends to both creating the work and viewing it. As a result, in their work Michael-Birch Pierce is able to depict moments in time, much like the capture of a photograph, that portray both a sexuality and sensuality. They mentioned to me that these minature works often feel like creating quick sketches for larger works in progress.
Artist Statement: An artifice is not simply made; it is meticulously crafted through a lifetime of careful decisions. Michael-Birch Pierce's work is an intimate study of the self we choose to share and the authenticity of interaction. Couched in the superficiality of high fashion and costume, they use traditional embroidery techniques to elevate cheap and gaudy materials into precious, tenuous structures. Each piece has a personality and through hours of obsessive stitching, they help construct its identity. Covered in paint or draped in sequins, they exist in layers that demand an intimate relationship with the viewer, concealing and revealing amalgams of plastic and purities of light and space.
About the Artist: Michael-Birch Pierce is a fiber artist and fashion designer. They received a B.F.A. in fashion design from VCU where they now teach Fashion Design and Arts Foundation. They also studied at the Savannah College of Art and Design for an M.F.A. in fibers with a focus on embroidery and embellishment. Pierce has interned for Diane von Furstenberg, embroidered Christmas decorations for the Obama White House, and designed an exclusive collection for Levi’s. They have completed artist residencies in Hong Kong and Lacoste, France and exhibited in numerous galleries and museums both domestically and abroad. They have performed their embroidered portraits at Oscar and Super Bowl events, Design/Miami, and SXSW, and worked with clients such as Visa, Target, Amazon, Delta, NBCUniversal, and Airbnb. The recipient of the 2015 Pollak Prize in Applied Arts, Pierce is represented by Quirk Gallery.
Find their recent work on Instagram: @michaelbirch
