Edna Lora

Artist Statement

Edna Lora | Textile Artist

My work grows out of decades of making things by hand and a lifelong fascination with the natural world. I combine traditional embroidery techniques, needle felting, beadwork, and reclaimed textiles to create richly textured portraits of birds, animals, and fanciful creatures.

I am drawn to materials that already have a history: fragments of silk, worn wool, vintage cotton, and discarded upholstery. Their textures, imperfections, and previous lives become part of the work. I enjoy finding unexpected relationships between materials and allowing them to influence the direction of a piece.

My animal and bird portraits begin with an idea, a sketch, and a little research. I use photographs and field guides to study my subjects, but I don't feel obliged to reproduce them exactly. I often begin embroidering the eyes. That's when a creature starts to acquire a personality of its own. Some become quite dignified; others have a mischievous streak.

As a longtime gardener of native plants, fruit trees, and vegetables, I am equally fascinated by the overlooked flowers growing along roadsides, in neglected spaces, and in my own rather untidy garden. My Southern Roadside Weeds series celebrates their forms, resilience, and quiet beauty.

I work intuitively, drawing on decades of self-directed exploration of traditional handwork. I enjoy combining techniques, experimenting with materials, and discovering what happens when needle, thread, fabric, and imagination come together. My artwork is conceived and made by hand, without the use of AI-generated imagery or designs.