Artist Statement
My work pays homage to American quilt-making traditions by playing with geometric patterns using stenciling, obsession, compulsion, precision, improvisation, spontaneity, and personal symbolism. I stitch fabric strips and triangles to build my art quilts, paint with watercolors and pastels on paper, and investigate quilt history and feminine craft.
I incorporate hand-dyed fabrics, repurposed clothing, and textiles from friends and thrift shops to create depth and richness in my work. Inspired by the Miami landscape, I combine organic geometry found in nature with colors that reflect the city's diverse cultural tapestry. I transform and manipulate these geometric shapes to create dynamic movement and evoke a sense of transformation. My use of unconventional materials, such as neoprene, sequins, and faux leather, is not just a stylistic choice but a deliberate homage to the pop culture that permeates Miami's artistic identity. Additionally, by incorporating thrifted and secondhand fabrics, I address the urgent issue of textile waste while reflecting the city's material culture.
My artistic journey is deeply rooted in a reverence for American folk art quilts and an admiration for geometric abstraction in the mid-to-late twentieth century. I draw inspiration from visionaries such as the Gee's Bend quilters, Anni Albers, Rosie Lee Tompkins, and Gego, whose work bridges craft and abstraction. Their influence informs my approach to pattern, color, and structure, guiding me to create quilts that are infused with personal symbolism and narratives, inviting connection and contemplation.
Bio
Regina Durante Jestrow (1978, Queens, NY) is a textile artist living and working in Miami, Florida. Her artistic journey began in her formative years, as she learned sewing and crocheting from her mother, igniting a passion that would become a lifelong force. This connection to textiles is the bedrock of her artistic practice. Relocating to Miami allowed Jestrow to delve into quilting, becoming a source of solace and creative expression. In her Miami home studio, the sewing machine, a symbol of comfort and creativity, continues taking center stage.
Jestrow's artistic exploration is deeply rooted in women's rights and history, combined with a deep appreciation for the patterns and stories drawn from the enduring traditions of American quilt-making. Her art quilts feature a fusion of new and second-hand fabrics, including hand-dyed and manipulated textiles, through various techniques, including natural and reactive dyes, inks, and acrylics. The resulting pieces reflect the colors and patterns that evoke Miami's dynamic cultural diversity and landscape. Her affinity for quilts pushes the boundaries of the medium, resulting in a diverse body of work that includes painting, drawings, sculptural installations, textile wall hangings, and functional objects.
Selected solo projects include “Lots of Little Pieces (aka My Favorite Color is Glitter)” at Miami-Dade College Kendall Gallery, Miami, FL (2025) “Non-Linear Path” at Liaigre, Miami, FL (2024), and “Americana Quilts: Reinterpretation of Tradition” at Laundromat Art Space, Miami, FL (2022). Selected group exhibitions include "Hand Over Hand: Textiles Today” at Mindy Solomon Gallery, Miami, FL (2023), and “In the Company of Women: At Large” at LnS Gallery, Miami, FL (2022). Jestrow has been awarded artist residencies at The Sam and Adele Golden Foundation (2024), The Jentel Foundation (2022), and National Park Service Artist in Residence in the Everglades (AIRIE) (2014). Awarded grants include the South Florida Cultural Consortium (SFCC, 2023), Miami Individual Artists (MIA) Grant (2022 - 2025), The Ellies, Miami’s Visual Arts Awards, Oolite Arts (2021), and the Artist Access Grant, Miami-Dade County and FUNdarte (2021 - 2024).