BJ Adams BIO
With a background in fine art, B. J. Adams current mixed media work may be realistic, surrealistic or abstract. Her images are first drawn on paper. She then uses a sewing machine to paint that exact image with thread.
B. J. Adams was born in San Diego where her father was a career naval officer. Having many homes in her young life (she often jokes that she was kicked out of 20 schools) has given variety to her life that broadened her interests in all aspects of art. Attending so many schools in so many states gave her an unusual perspective, an ability to adapt, and a well-rounded education. Studying dual subjects, mathematics and art, at the University of Utah, and then moving to California with her husband, she quickly joined more art workshops and spent all available time painting. First oils and then acrylics were her mediums, later clay sculpture, and this all led to an interest in tactile mediums (she often designed and created her clothes) and to fiber techniques.
Now living in Washington, DC., Adams works as a studio artist where her art has been commissioned for public and private collections. She says her influences come from all around her and everywhere. (As an example, her bungy jumping in New Zealand gave her ideas for an upside-down abstract landscape) Her artwork varies from textured abstract wall-hangings to machine embroidered realistic images. In one of B. J.’s series, she reveals her fascination with botany and the natural world. And, in each piece she exhibits her playfulness by inserting some unexpected imagery…..a surprise, as a Tabasco bottle in with tomatoes and peppers and a hotdog mixed in with flowers, butterflies and fruits. Another series incorporates the alphabet creating one wall hanging to represent each letter. The format, size and representational images differ for each letter.
Adams' work has been shown in many International art exhibits including The 9th International Triennale of Tapestry in Lodz, Poland, Nos Plus Belles Histoires Brodees at the Folk Art Museum in Paris, and Art of the Stitch in London. Nationally her work has been exhibited in The Textile Museum in Washington, DC, several Quilt Nationals, Celebrating the Stitch, The Full Deck, SAQA Exhibits, and many other venues.
B. J.'s work is in the collection of many public buildings including The Art Institute of Chicago, Disney’s ESPN Zone in D.C., Bellsouth Corporation, Kaiser Permanente, and Alabama Power and Light in Birmingham, Alabama. She has been awarded two grants from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities and several awards for individual works in various exhibits.
Her artwork has appeared in many publications including: FIBERARTS, SURFACE DESIGN JOURNAL, TEXTILEFORUM (from Europe), FIBERFORUM (Australia), THREADS (New Zealand) magazines as well as many books including QUILT NATIONAL catalogs, Full DECK, CELEBRATING THE STITCH, and MASTERS: Art Quilts.
