ARTIST STATEMENT
“Thank You” is a hand-embroidered piece that reimagines the iconic red-lettered plastic takeout bag into something meant to be held, kept, and honored. In San Francisco, these bags are often used to transport lovingly prepared food from family-run restaurants and neighborhood shops—places where labor, culture, and care are woven into every meal. I’ve translated this disposable object into something lasting—through thread on fabric—to slow the moment down and reflect on what it means to give and receive with intention. This piece is a gesture of offering to the often-unseen labor of women—those who cook, tend, and express their thanks through handwritten notes on behalf of families and traditions. A stitched pocket on the back holds a piece of cardstock, inviting a handwritten message. A safety pin allows the piece to be displayed or carried—a quiet echo of the bag it references, now reimagined as a vessel for gratitude and remembrance. My creative work often explores feeling, ritual, and how the handmade can carry emotion and story. I use embroidery as a way to bring attention to things that might otherwise be overlooked—to transform the ordinary into something intimate and lasting. “Thank You” is a love letter, in a way—a quiet recognition of all the care that holds people and communities together, and the women—past and present—who make that possible.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
I’m an artist and maker based in San Francisco with a background in cultural and medical anthropology, psychology, and expressive arts. My creative practice includes attention to ritual, memory, and feeling as pathways for understanding and expressing the human experience. With a current focus on embroidery and fiber traditions, I utilize materials that are both tactile and symbolic—chosen for their capacity to hold story, emotion, and meaning. My work often reflects on the intersection of personal and collective experience—creating intimate, reflective pieces that invite engagement and attention. I create hand-embroidered jewelry, ornaments, and textile-based wall pieces that draw on both traditional craft and personal narrative. My work has been featured in publications such as Better Homes and Gardens, Mollie Makes, New Visionary Magazine, and several creative blogs and online platforms. I’m currently showing work in the Pins and Posters exhibition at Front Room Gallery in Amsterdam, and will also be part of the upcoming group show The Stranger Within in fall 2025, through Mastrius. In addition to my studio practice, I work as a Child Life Specialist and Expressive Arts Practitioner in a hospital setting, where I support children, families, and adults through creative, psychosocial, and developmental interventions. This work deepens my artmaking—reinforcing my belief in the power of creativity to comfort, connect, and reveal. Across all mediums, my work sits at the intersection of art, craft, and emotional resonance—offering a sensory experience that invites contemplation, recognition, and response.
© Astrid Reichenbach