ARTIST STATEMENT
I am a fiber artist creating abstract works with fabric, thread, and unconventional materials such as hook and eye tape—elements traditionally used in bras and corsets. Rooted in traditional sewing techniques, my work layers expansive fields of color with intricate stitching to explore themes of repetition, structure, and a spiritual attentiveness to the present moment.
The process of making is central to my practice. I approach each piece as a slow, deliberate act—one that allows me to engage deeply with material and time. The rhythm of stitching, the feel of the fabric, the decisions made and remade by hand—all become a form of meditation. This embodied, tactile process is where meaning takes shape, long before the work is complete.
Much of my inspiration comes from my grandmother’s sewing room, where I first encountered the quiet rituals of handwork and the emotional weight carried by cloth. That early experience connects my work to both domestic craft and industrial process, blurring the boundaries between utility and expression. Influenced by the minimalist and spiritual sensibility of Agnes Martin, I see my practice as a contemplative act—one rooted in rhythm, materiality, and presence.
I invite viewers to slow down, look closely, and engage with the subtle language of texture, rhythm, and material. My work calls for presence, offering a quiet space for reflection, where the repetition of marks becomes a meditative and grounding practice. By elevating the overlooked and the everyday, I hope to create moments of stillness that reconnect us with our true nature and a deeper sense of consciousness and being.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Denise Yaghmourian (b. 1967, Bethpage , New York) is a fiber artist creating abstract works using fabric, thread, and unconventional materials such as hook and eye tape—typically used in bra and corset making. Her work features expansive fields of color layered with intricate stitching, exploring themes of repetition, structure, and the beauty found in everyday materials. Yaghmourian moved to Arizona at the age of 8 and grew up in Phoenix. She spent most of her childhood years swimming in the family pool, exploring the desert environments with friends. and spending time sewing and crocheting with her Armenian Grandmother. She earned her BFA from Arizona State University, in Tempe, Arizona, in studio art and art education. Yaghmourian has participated in national and international exhibitions including Tucson Museum of Art (permanent collection), Visions Textile Museum, Phoenix Art Museum, Udinotti Museum, and Kent State Art Museum.
Yaghmourian currently lives and works in Arizona.
© Denise Yaghmourian