Louis Buhl & Co. is pleased to present a new print edition with New York-based artist Michael Thorpe, titled Flowers for Cecilia. Through the use of bright colors, organic shapes, and meandering quilting patterns, Thorpe explores the limitations of both social constructs and textiles. He combines fabrics, imagery, and language to evoke alternative perspectives on the human experience, while referring back to the quilting tradition of his mother’s family and the rich history of African American quilting. 

Flowers for Cecilia is the first-ever print Thorpe has produced, and reflects his newfound interest in drawing as an extension of his textile practice. The drawing that inspired the print, a modern still life, was created on his iPad. The process is a stark juxtaposition to Thorpe’s typical means of production when comparing the freedoms and constraints of color in digital-based practices versus quilting. Thus, the experience of developing this screenprint was enlightening for Thorpe as it offered space to broaden his understanding of and relationship with color, a driving element in the breadth of his creations.