Elizabeth Tolson is an Artist and Educator who combines textiles and ceramics to create a dialogue between the themes of fertility, motherhood, time, and space. The use of quilting, weaving, and ceramics, allows her to connect the slow and deliberate process of stitching with the physicality of clay. Tolson’s pieces are both delicate and resilient, reflecting the complexity of the human experience. Tolson holds an MFA from Parsons School of Design and a BFA from Alfred University. She has participated in residencies at the Textile Arts Center, Trestle Projects, Chashama’s ChaNorth, Woodstock Byrdcliffe Guild, and ProjectArt at the Bushwick Brooklyn Library. Exhibitions include the Textile Arts Center in Brooklyn, NY, Local Projects in Queens, NY, Target Gallery in Alexandria, VA, and Cuchifritos Gallery in New York City. She was a Guest Juror for Textile Arts Center’s Work in Progress Residency. She has been a guest artist at Denison University and Alfred University. Tolson is currently based in Brooklyn, NY where she is a Part-time Assistant Professor at Parsons School of Design in the First Year Program.
Artist Statement
My work explores the themes of fertility, motherhood, time, and space through ceramics, weaving, and sewing. It is informed by my personal narrative, the body and the experiences it carries. These mediums share a common thread in which they are rooted in a deep history of human production and tradition.
My weaving and sewing work emphasizes the intertwining of the body and the experiences it carries. I use fibers and fabrics to create pieces that evoke the textures and rhythms of the human form, often incorporating motifs of fertility and growth. Through this process I am able to explore the idea of time and the ways in which our experiences are woven into the fabric of our being.
Ceramics are a pliable material that can be used to create both functional and non-functional objects. This versatility speaks to the adaptability and resilience of the human form. In these works, I often incorporate elements of the female identifying body, such as breasts or curves, to create sculptures that evoke a sense of sensuality and strength. These pieces are meant to challenge traditional notions of femininity and highlight the power and agency of this form.
I often incorporate elements of quilting and weaving into my ceramic pieces. This creates a dynamic interplay between the two mediums, allowing me to explore the themes of texture, form, and color in a unique way. These works speak to the interconnectedness of human production.
Additionally, the historical and cultural significance of ceramics and textiles in domestic spaces offers rich context for examining the role of mothers in the home and the ways in which their labor has been celebrated and undervalued. Ceramics and textiles provide ways to explore the complexities of the experience of motherhood and the use of the body.
The uterine body has often been compared to outer space, with its vast, uncharted territories and mysterious qualities. This connection emphasized through the association between the uterine body and the moon, which has been explored in myth, art, and science. The lunar cycle is often seen as a symbol of the cyclical nature of fertility and the ebb and flow of life.
Throughout my work, I am mindful of the ways in which language and imagery can reinforce exclusion and erasure. By exploring the themes of fertility, motherhood, time, and space through ceramics, weaving, and sewing, I hope to create pieces that inspire contemplation, reflection, and connection.
Education
2013, MFA in Design and Technology, Parsons The New School for Design, New York, NY
2010, BFA in Expanded Media Art and Minor in Art History, Alfred University, Alfred, NY
2019, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages Certificate, The New School, New York, NY
2021, Artist in Residence Cohort 12, Textile Arts Center, Brooklyn, NY
2009, Women’s Studies Certificate, Women’s Leadership Academy at Alfred University, Alfred, NY
Artist Residencies
2020-2021, Textile Arts Center Artist in Residence, Brooklyn, NY (9 Months)
2019, Woodstock Byrdcliffe Guild Artist in Residence, Woodstock, NY (1 Month)
2018-2019, Trestle Artist Residency, Brooklyn, NY (1 Year)
2018, SVA Summer Residency in Contemporary Practices (Faculty: Dara Birnbaum, Seph Rodney, and Anna Ogier-Bloomer), New York, NY (1 Month)
2018, Chashama’s ChaNorth Residency, Pine Plaines, NY (1 Month)
2017-2018, NYC Crit Club Member,(Instructor’s Catherine Haggarty and Hillary Doyle) New York, NY (2 Semesters)
2017, Work in Progress Residency, Textile Arts Center, New York, NY (1 Month)
2017, Lawcawac Artists’ Residency, Lake Ariel, PA, Fellowship Awarded (2 Weeks)
2017, Benaco Arte, Sirmione, Italy, Fellowship Awarded (2 Weeks)
2016-2017, ProjectArt, Social Justice and Practice Residency at the Bushwick Library, Bushwick, NY (1 Year)
2016, Open Wabi, Man.u.fac.ture Residency, Fredericktown, OH (2 Weeks)
Guest Juror
2019, Textile Arts Center, Work in Progress Residency
Awards / Fellowships
• Woodstock Byrdcliffe Guild Artist Residency Grant, 2019
• Parsons’ Part-time Faculty Development Fund Award, 2018
• Lawcawac Artist Residency Fellowship, 2016
• Benaco Arte Artist Residency Fellowship, 2016
Permanent Collection
• Van Every/Smith Galleries at Davidson College
Solo Video Installation
2019, Video Exhibition Project, Davidson College Art Galleries, Davidson, NC
Selected Group Exhibitions
2023
• Functional Fall: A Seat At The Table, Clay Art Center, Port Chester, NY
• To Darken Lightly, The LIC-A Art Space, Queens, NY
• Transplants, Amos Eno Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
• Local Champion, Local Project, Queens, NY
2021
• space/time, 934 Gallery, Columbus, OH
• Considering Mass and Density, Textile Arts Center, Brooklyn, NY
• The Resilience Project, Long Island Explorium, Long Island, NY
2020
• Notes From The New Interior, ED. Varie, New York, NY
• 18th Street Women, Trestle Gallery (Online), Brooklyn, NY
• Utopian Living, Byrdcliffe Kleinart/James Center for the Arts, Woodstock, NY
• Conceal/Reveal, The Art Vacancy, Brooklyn, NY
2019
• Soft Riots, The Hive, Brooklyn, NY
• 2019 Residency Exhibition, Trestle Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
• Feels Like a New Beginning, Chashama One Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn NY
• Speak, Muse, In Passing, New York, NY
• Textile Arts Center 10 Year Reunion Exhibition, Textile Arts Center, Brooklyn, NY
• Every Woman Biennial (Formally known as “Whitney Houston Biennial)”, La Mama Galleria, New York, NY
• On:Site, Trestle Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
• In the Offing, Hercules Art, New York, NY
• Birthday Suit, Site:Brooklyn, Brooklyn, NY
• Gossamer, La Bodega Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
• Many Faces, The Living Gallery Outpost, New York, NY
• Love/Hate, Local Project, Queens, NY
• In the Spirit, NYC Crit Club Juried Group Show at 68 Jay St., Brooklyn, NY
2018
• small/MIGHTY, La Bodega Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
• I See an Omen, Benaco Arte, Brescia, Italy (Curated by Will Hutnick)
• In Practice, Open Source Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
2017
• Not a Rehearsal: In Flux of Upturned Pleasure, El Museo de Los Sures, Brooklyn, NY
• Beyond Site, K&P Gallery, Chelsea, NY
• Small Works, K&P Gallery, Chelsea, NY
• Art + Social Practice, ProjectArt’s Residency Exhibition, Curtiss Jacobs Gallery, Harlem, NY
• Carnaval De Luz, El Barrio’s Artspace PS109, New York, NY
• Nasty Women, ABD Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2016, SXstyle Wearable Technology and Functional Garments, SXSW, Austin, TX
2015, The Loft Show, Mckibbin Lofts: Bushwick Open Studios, Brooklyn, NY
2014, Understanding Media: The Extensions of the Human Being, 319 Scholes, Brooklyn, NY (Jurors: Michela Bondardo, Holly Crawford, Jill Conner, Alison Pierz, and Vida Sabbaghi)
2013
• Carte Blanche, LSU Museum of Art, Baton Rouge, LA
• MFA Design and Technology Thesis Exhibition, Parsons, New York, NY
• Disparate Perspectives, Parsons’ Gallery, New York, NY
2012, Witness Material, Cuchifritos, New York, NY
2010
• Ladyfest Bellingham, The Meat Market, Bellingham, WA
• BFA Senior Thesis Exhibition, Davis Gym, Alfred, NY
Screenings
2017, Filmideo, Index Art Center, Newark, NJ
2014, Bushwick Daily Short Film Festival, Bizarre, Brooklyn, NY
2013, Guilty Pleasure, Center for Performance Research, Brooklyn, NY
2012, iLike Market, Family Business Gallery, New York, NY (Curated by Lucia Love)
2011
• Data Happy, Das Kafe, Beacon, NY
• Washington Project for the Arts Experimental Media Series (Juror: DJ Spooky), Screenings at: The Philips Collection, Washington D.C., St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, Washington D.C.,Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
2010
• Female Shorts: Film & Video Showcase, Target Gallery, Alexandria, VA
• The 10th Annual T-10 Festival, 21 Grand, Oakland, CA
• Clifton Film Festival, Clifton Town Park, Clifton, VA
• The Media Lab, The Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing, China
• The Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts Museum, Shenyang, China
Artist Lectures/Conferences
2021
• Artist Talk, Textile Month Los Angeles, Zoom
• Guest Artist, Textile Arts Center, Summer Camp, Brooklyn, NY
• Foundations in Art: Theory and Education, “Infrastructure”: Co-Chair for Panel ” Merging perspectives: Exploring interdisciplinary approaches between studio art and other disciplines”
2019, Foundations in Art: Theory and Education, “Foundations in Flux: Strategies for the International Foundations Classroom Panel, Columbus College of Art & Design, Columbus, OH
2017
• Artist in Residence Lecture, Lacawac Sanctuary, Lake Ariel, PA
• Benaco Arte’s Artist in Residence Lecture, Sirmoine, Italy
2016
• Social Justice and Practice Artist Residency Lecture, ProjectArt, New York, NY
• Visiting Artist, Denison College, Granville, OH
2015, Women of Influence: Guest Artist, Alfred University, Alfred, NY
2014, Wearable Technology with Harvestworks Digital Media Arts Center Lecture and Workshop, Internet Week Conference, New York, NY
2013, Visiting Artist, Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia
Artist Talk, Cuchifritos Gallery, New York, NY
Visiting Critic
2017, Senior Thesis: Fashion Final Critique, Parsons School of Design, New York, NY
2016, MFA Wearable Technology Final Critique, Parsons School of Design, New York, NY
2014, MFA Creativity and Computation Final Critique, Parsons School of Design, New York, NY
Workshops
2017
• Wearable Technology: Simple Circuits, Textile Arts Center, New York, NY
• Wearable Technology: Simple Circuits, New York Electronic Arts Festival, New York, NY
• Multimedia Self Portraits for ProjectArt Gala, Red Bull Art Studio, New York, NY
• ProjectArt’s Weaving and Fiber Arts Workshop, MANA Contemporary, Jersey City, NJ
2015, Wearable Technology, Harvestworks Digital Media Arts Center, New York, NY
2014, Wearable Technology: Simple Circuits, Internet Week Conference, New York, NY
Teaching Experience
2017 – Present, Part-time Assistant Professor, Parsons School of Design, New York, NY
2016 -2021, Teaching Artist, Brooklyn College Art Lab, Brooklyn, NY
2016 – Summer, Sustainable Fashion Educator, The Museum of the City of New York, New York, NY
2016-2017, Teaching Artist, ProjectArt, Brooklyn Bushwick Library, Brooklyn, NY
2016-2017, Teaching Artist, KoKo Open Source Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
2011-2013, Faculty Workshop Instructor, The New School, New York, NY
Professional Experience
2015-2016, Artist Assistant, Monika Bravo, Queens, NY
2015, Freelance Studio Assistant, Randy Polumbo, Brooklyn, NY
2014-2016, Lead Studio Assistant, Roy Braeger Design, Brooklyn, NY
2014-2015, Design and Fabrication Freelancer, Design Compendium, Brooklyn, NY
2014, Interactive Costume Designer, Arch Contemporary Ballet, New York, NY
2013, Costume and Set Designer, And She Bakes, LIVE! at Dixon Place and Fringe Festival, New York, NY
2010-2011, Intern Coordinator, Harvestworks Digital Media Arts Center, New York, NY
Exhibitions Curated
2011, End to End, Harvestworks, New York, NY (Co-Curators: Zeljka Blak and Moyi Zhang)
Performances
2014, Make: Wearables on the Runway, Jacob Javis Center, New York, NY
2013, #artwedding, Fitness Gallery, Brooklyn, NY (Collaborator: Cem Kocyildirim)
Bibliography
2018 – “Artist Feature: Elizabeth Tolson”, Cooties Zine, July 6, 2019
2015 – Ashley Hoffman, “A Three-Dimensional, LED-Lit Dance Costume that Exposes the Performer — Or Hides Her”, New York Times’ T Magazine, June 5, 2015.
2015 – “Elizabeth Tolson – Brooklyn, New York”, 365 Artists 365 Days, Feb. 23, 2015.
2015 – Mariella,”Das Menstruationskleid: Stopp – Ich Menstruiere!”, Sleaze Magazine, Feb. 5, 2015.
2015 – Matt Richardson, “Fashion Forward, Nine designers blending apparel and technology”, Make: Magazine, February 2015, 36-37.
2015 – Amber Frost, “ On the Rag: Sci-Fi Dress Warns ‘I’M ON MY F*CKING PERIOD’ with LED Lights!”, Dangerous Minds, Jan. 22, 2015.
2015 – Genista, “Interactive LED Dress Changes Color When the Wearer is Menstruating or Touched Inappropriately”, Jan. 7, 2015.
2015 – Laura Smith, “This dress alarms when the wearer is touched inappropriately”, Design Faves, 2015.
2014 – Matt Richardson, “Wearables in Contemporary Ballet”, Make, New York, NY, November 2014.
2014 – Matt Richardson, “Make: Wearables Projects on the Runway”, Makezine, Nov 8, 2014.
2014 – Ashley Hoffman, “LED Artist Elizabeth Tolson on Chastity Pledges Slut Shaming and Her Light Up Fertility Dress”, Styleite, Mar. 24, 2014.
Publications as Author
2013 – “Vessel: A Series of Dresses Specially Designed for the Female Body – Fashioning Technology Featured Post”, Fashioningtech.com, July 2013.