Boats have long been at the heart of Ellen Piccolo’s work. While her earlier paintings were representational, her fiber work embraces abstraction, reducing boats to simple, flat shapes that evoke memory and a sense of place rather than exact form.
Each quilt begins as a painted paper collage, allowing Piccolo to explore composition before translating the design into fabric. She is inspired by the quiet strength of working boats, their weathered surfaces, and the rhythms of life on the water. Through cloth, she captures their essence, creating work that reflects her connection to the coast while inviting viewers to bring their own memories and experiences to the work.