Artist Statement
Fiber and mixed media artist, Renee Keels has been sewing since junior high. In home economics, I became fascinated with making clothes, eventually becoming skilled in dressmaking and tailoring. In 2001, I developed an interest learning the art of quilting. Coached in traditional methods by an experienced quilter, my journey towards creating art quilts began.
Originally, my work consisted of making traditional quilts. As my skills developed and I found my “voice” my work expanded to include improvisational quilts.
I work with my own hand-dyed fabrics, African and other ethnic prints, batiks and commercial fabrics. My work can be found at www.metamofosi.org. I also the founded Quilting Beyond Borders, a charitable trust organization that provides opportunities women who live in the Caribbean islands basic and advanced quilting.
In the recent years, many of my art quilts are inspired by dreams and visions, biblical stories of women (and men), landscapes and historical women of color who’s stories have yet to be found and told. As a student of history, I find that the lives of African American women in general and specifically, are absent from the “written historical records.” Some persons will never open a ‘book’ but they will definitely “read” a quilt, especially one with pictures.
Along with being an art quilter, I am a prolific bag and quilted jacket maker,in addition to creating stunning coordinated items for home décor.
Guild Memberships
Kuumba 2011 to present
Sisters in Stitches, Joined by the Cloth, Inc. President 2009-2011
Professional Memberships
CIVA -Christians in the Visual Arts
SAQA -Studio Art Quilt Association
NEQM-New England Quilt Museum
ODC –Ohio Designer Craftsmen
Creative Women of Color, Columbus, OH
Presentations and Exhibitions
Sisters in Stitches –2009, 2011
Trunk Show –New England Quilt Museum 2011
African Fabrics Trunk Show –Warren County Guild 2016
Women in Ministry Luncheon–2014
A Woman of the Cloth –A Spiritual Journey of Healing through Cloth
Andover Newton - Black History Month, 2015
The Spirituality of Quilting and Trunk Show
Afro American Historical and Genealogical Society -April 2015
19th Century African American Women Preachers, Prophets & Healers
Classes and Workshops
AvailableBasic and Advanced Quilting
Color Theory
Fabric dyeing and printing
Surface Design and Mixed Media
Using decorative stitches and other neat things on your machine
Care for your Sewing Machine