Fabric, Thread, and Imagination: The Art of Kate Dwyer
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Photo by Carolyn Lewis [/caption]
Arts reporting by Carolyn Lewis
Kate Dwyer’s creative world comes together with a deep appreciation for beauty, whether it’s found in the folds of fabric or the leaves and plants in her thriving garden. A self-taught artist with a background in painting, Dwyer found her way into fiber art through a long and winding trail that began, quite literally, in the garden.
Her introduction to fabric art came unexpectedly, after years of painting on glass and metal, “One day I happened into a fabric store and was, as always, entranced by the materials,” she recalls. But despite her fascination, she felt frustrated by her inability—or perhaps unwillingness—to sew. Determined not to let that stop her, she brought a few small, choice pieces of fabric home and set out to make something with them—no needle required.
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Photo by Carolyn Lewis [/caption]
Drawing on her eye for color, line, and composition, Dwyer adapted the childhood craft of papier-mâché into a medium all her own. Instead of paper and paste, she developed a distinctive method using fabric, thread, and glue—what she calls “fabric maché.” Over the past five years, this technique has evolved into a signature art form, characterized by layered textures and organic shapes that evoke both whimsy and depth.
Her work includes sculptural fabric spheres and bowls—each one an exploration of pattern, memory, and material. These creations embrace imperfection, celebrating visible seams and raw edges, and reflecting Dwyer’s hands-on, intuitive process. Lately, Dwyer has been doing collage using fabric, paper and plastic stencils on both sides of clear plexiglass.
Dwyer’s lush Port Townsend garden also plays a vital role in her creative practice. A space she’s cultivated over the years, it offers both inspiration and meditation. “There’s something about growing things—plants or art—that taps into the same rhythm,” she says. The shifting light, seasonal color, and organic forms around her home all find their way, consciously or not, into her fiber pieces.
Dwyer’s artwork has garnered regional recognition. Her pieces are available at the Museum of Northwest Art Store, the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art Store, and Museo Gallery in Langley. She was recently included in the summer exhibition Northwest Expressions at the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art.
Whether she’s teaching workshops, tending her garden, or crafting a new fabric maché piece and exploring new techniques in her studio, Kate Dwyer’s work invites us to slow down, look closely, and find beauty in unexpected materials—and in the spaces where art and nature quietly meet.
Dwyer invites the public to visit her studio this August during the Artist Studio Tour on August 23-24, 2025. More info about the tour can be found at www.rawartcollective.org
Carolyn Lewis is a serial entrepreneur, artist, and community builder happily living and volunteering in Port Townsend. Visit her social media group on Facebook at Port Townsend Life and follow her on Instagram @linalewisart
