Brandi Kole is a mixed media fiber artist whose work challenges the conventional boundaries of fiber art by reimagining traditional techniques through unexpected materials such as paper, vinyl, and cardboard. Her practice explores themes of identity, gender, and sexuality, often through the reusing and deconstruction of cultural artifacts. By subverting traditional forms, she draws new meaning from familiar materials, reclaiming craft techniques and placing them in a contemporary context. This process invites reflection on the politics of labor and production: who creates, who controls, and how systems of mass production shape authenticity. In exploring the intersections of fiber, femininity, and consumerism, Kole confronts how domesticity and materialism are often used as markers of worth or aspiration.

Her recent work blends free motion embroidery with digital performance, using the screen as both mirror and stage. By engaging with ambient intimacy, the connection formed through digital presence, Kole reflects on the performance of self in an age of constant visibility. These pieces exist as both physical objects and ephemeral gestures, grounded in a desire to reclaim the female gaze and explore the vulnerability of being seen. Through this duality, Kole creates a deeply personal and political dialogue around embodiment, transformation, and control.

Kole’s work is rooted in a matrilineal tradition of fiber art passed down by her grandmother, whose emphasis on resourcefulness and storytelling continues to shape her artistic ethos. Inspired by the mantra “use what you have on hand,” she uses repurposed and recycled materials, creating layered narratives that are both intimate and expansive. Kole earned her BFA from the University of Arizona and currently maintains studios in Minneapolis, MN and Tucson, AZ.