ARTIST STATEMENT
I am, at heart, an explorer—exploring the possibilities within materials and processes.I do not work in one specific medium or style, rather I explore what is available and what best communicates my ideas.
My work currently, focuses on fiber and textiles, using these to express creative concepts that often reveal themselves through the process of hand making/crafting. I’m especially drawn to the tactile, transformative nature of fiber work: knotting, wrapping, and layering are central to my practice, echoing both ritual , repetition and repair.
Much of my work incorporates salvaged materials from my fabrication background—industrial remnants – wood, metal, acrylic, rope, leather – reimagined through handcraft. Through this, I investigate the transformation of objects—how form, presentation, and context can elevate the mundane into something revered.
My Eastern European heritage runs like a thread through everything I make. Folk art, mythology, and utilitarian craft inform both my aesthetics and intentions. I approach textiles as a kind of language—one that conveys memories and stories. Whether binding scraps into abstract sculptural forms or constructing larger wall-based works, I aim to create pieces that feel both handmade and tough, tender and resilient.
My practice is about hybridity—merging the old with the new, the rough with the refined. I work intuitively, letting the materials guide me. It’s a process rooted in accumulation, distortion, and reinvention—an ongoing exploration of what’s possible.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Polish-born, Chicago-bred.
Andrea Jablonski is a multidisciplinary artist focusing on fiber and textile art. Influenced by her Eastern European heritage and extensive travels across Europe, Asia, Australia, and the United States, she seamlessly weaves cultural traditions with contemporary techniques.
For over a decade, Jablonski has worked as a commercial painter and fabricator, creating site-specific installations, murals, sculptures, and wall pieces. Her ability to transform concepts into striking, tangible works across a diverse range of materials has earned her an impressive roster of clients and projects. A hands-on, largely self-taught artist, she thrives on bringing bold ideas to life.
Her contributions to the arts have been widely recognized, including being named one of Chicago Reader’s People of the Year in 2011 and a featured artist for Chicago Artists’ Month in 2014. Jablonski has been awarded grants from The National Endowment For The Arts, Chicago Department Of Cultural Affairs (DCASE), and more. She continues to exhibit regularly.
Before fully immersing herself in the visual arts, Jablonski toured the U.S. as a musician, most notably as the frontwoman of the doom metal band Rabid Rabbit, which garnered critical acclaim. Her creative practice also extends into community arts, collaborating with organizations such as Elastic Arts, Arts of Life, Opera-Matic, and After School Matters. Additionally, she hosts a monthly Eastern European-themed radio show on Lumpen Community Radio.
© Andrea Jablonski