Judy always had the desire to create and was blessed to be surrounded by people who fostered her creative outlets. She loved fabric and this love led to a degree in Home Economics and a career in teaching.
Over the years, Judy's artistic journey has led her from seamstress to teacher to fiber artist. Her work has been exhibited on national and international levels, featured in books and magazines and held in public and private collections. She is also the author of two books. Judy is a member of the Southern Highland Craft Guild, Studio Art Quilt Association - professional member and PTA - Professional Textile Artists. |
Judy creates her art quilts through a variety of techniques including layering, digital imagery and stitch. She starts with white and working with dyes will incorporate a number of processes including image transfers, screening, dye and paint to bring the fabric to life. Judy draws her subject matter from a large collection of family documents and pictures which connect her work to her heritage. She uses her own photography and is often drawn to the deterioration of natural elements, things that have endured the hands of time, interesting and beautiful in their own right. |
Selected Exhibitions and Shows2017
Nature's Apothecary - Members of SAQA regional group 2016 Focus Gallery - Members of the Southern Highland Craft Guild Fellowship - Members of the Southern Highland Craft Guild Fine Art and the Colors of Nature - NC Arboretum 2014
SAQA 2014 Anniversary Trunk Show - Members of SAQA - Traveling show for 3 years Quilts at the Pisgah Inn - Members of Professional Textile Artists Blue Ridge Parkway, Asheville, NC Appalachian Regional Commission - Members of Southern Highland Guild, Washington, D.C. Fiber Art and Nature - NC Arboretum, Asheville, NC It IS a Small World - Members of Southern Highland Guild Folk Art Center, Asheville, NC 2013
Inspired By - Quilt Fest of New Jersey, New Jersey Inspired By - a traveling exhibit by Professional Textile Artists, Denver Quilt Show, Denver, CO Inspired By - Asheville Quilt Guild Quilt Show, Asheville, NC 2012
Ha Ha Made you Laugh Gallery 86, Waynesville, NC Black and White Southern Highland Craft Guild, Asheville, NC Designer Showcase Historic Flat Rock, Hendersonville, NC Quilts by the Professional Textile Artists NC Arboretum, Asheville, NC April in Asheville AB Tech, Asheville, NC Inspired By Mid Atlantic Quilt Festival, Hampton, VA Taiwan International Quilt Exhibition and Festival, Taiwan 8th Biennial Invitational; The Art of the Quilt Piedmont Arts Association, Martinsville, VA Inspired By Jacksonville Quilt Fest, Jacksonville, FL 2011 Pieces of the Story Southern Highland Craft Guild, Asheville, NC Quilts by Local Artists Biltmore Estate, Asheville, NC LINT - Ladies in New Textiles Haywood Arts Council, Waynesville, NC 2010 New Traditions - Wearable Art Southern Highland Craft Guild, Asheville, NC 7th Biennial Invitational; The Art of the Quilt Piedmont Arts Association, Martinsville, VA Fiber Fantasy Blue Ridge Arts Council, Seneca, SC Quilted Wood Works The Arts Company, Seneca, SC 2009 New Works Members of LINT, Asheville, NC The Legacy Continues Southern Highland Craft Guild, Asheville, NC Quilts by Professional Textile Artists NC Arboretum, Asheville, NC 6th Biennial Invitational; The Art of the Quilt Piedmont Arts Association, Martinsville, VA Biltmore Estate Annual Quilt Exhibit, Asheville, NC A River Runs Through It Focus, Threadheads and Fringe Sisters, Seneca, SC Transparency by LINT Black Mountain Arts Council, Black Mountain, NC 2007 The Works of Judy Simmons Focus Gallery, Asheville, NC Quilt Dialogues/Vintage Inspired Quilts Transylvania Community Arts Council, Brevard, NC A Galaxy of Quilts AB Tech, Asheville, NC 2006 5th Biennial Invitational; The Art of the Quilt Piedmont Arts Association, Martinsville, VA Biltmore Estate Annual Quilt Exhibit, Asheville, NC SHCG Membership show; Appalachian Regional Commission, Washington, DC Fiber Arts Alliance The Design Gallery, Burnsville, NC New Traditions in Quiltmaking Southern Highland Craft Guild, Asheville, NC The Artistry of Judy Simmons Blue Ridge Quilt Festival, Blacksburg, VA Piecing for Peace by LINT Textures, Waynesville, NC Lint Presents Light Front Gallery, Asheville, NC |
Art for Sale
Selected Publications and Books
2012
Where in the World Quilt Life, February The Flute Player Asheville Citizen Times, September Artists create in black and white Hendersonville Times, September 2007 The Art of Staying Warm Mountain Xpress, February 2006 WNC Quilt Group in International Competition, Asheville Citizen Times, August 2005 New Exhibitions Spartanburg County Museum of Art, August Textured Bobbin Work Pillow, Through the Needle 2002 Georgians Among Royalty of Quilting, Atlanta Journal Constitution, April Fine Focus Quilting Arts Summer 2001 Straight From the Heart Quilter’s Newsletter, June Quilt Artistry Life Dayton Daily News, May 2000 Transferring Nature to Fabric American Quilter, Winter Straight From the Heart, Craft and Needlework Age, October Innovations, An Exhibit of Contemporary Art Quilts Arts Across Kentucky, August Books authored by Judy Simmons 1999 Creative Marbling on Fabric That Patchwork Place Publication, Bothell, Washington 1997 Machine Needlelace and Other Embellishment Techniques That Patchwork Place Bothell, Washington |