Artist Statement
My work explores psychological and explores socio-political issues including gender identity development and traditional family structures from a feminist perspective. I come from a place of trauma. Integral to my studio practice of mining the autobiographical is my work helping other people’s visual voices emerge.
I work slowly and focus on process. I tell tales of common human challenges: individual and communal. I puzzle through and arrange hundreds of snippets. Each is important to the whole like the sum of the many small moments that make up a lifetime. Our mutual narratives take shape in installations, murals, garments, and paintings.
I am drawn to the discarded: clothes from friends and relatives, paper ephemera, and vintage linens. These disparate materials were all once utile; they show the wear and tear of well-loved objects and scars and stains of lives lived. I alter my materials through deconstruction, rending, rusting, and composting. I embellish my materials with block printing, thermo-fax, embroidery, and paint. I employ traditional methods of sewing construction in a contemporary way probing the tension between old and new and art and craft.
In addition to my solo studio practice, I work with communities to create collaborative works of art. Committed to the use of visual expression as storytelling, transmitting knowledge, and teaching values, I facilitate the exploration of individual and group identity resulting in site-specific installations and collaborative wall hangings.
Selected Solo and Two Person Exhibitions
2020 Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston, Art Lab, Threads of Connection installation and public art project
2018 Chandler Gallery, Maud Morgan Art Center, Cambridge, MA, Family of Origin
2017 Some Semblance Of, ArtSpace Gallery, Maynard, MA
2015 The PLACE Between, Hess Gallery, Pine Manor College, Chestnut Hill, MA, The PLACE Between
North Hill Art Gallery, Needham, MA, Artist-in-Residence: Merill Comeau
2014 World of Threads Festival, Canada, Oakville, Ontario, Canada, Merill Comeau Solo
2013 Danforth Art Museum and School, Framingham, MA, Fragments of Eden
McIninch Art Gallery, Southern New Hampshire University, Manchester, NH, Remains of the Day
2012 Cell Signaling Technology, Danvers, MA
2011 Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, Jamaica Plain, MA, Tree Pieces
The Center for Arts in Natick, Natick, MA
2010 ArtSpace Gallery, ArtSpace, Maynard, MA, Fragments of Eden
Concord Art Association, Concord, MA, Merill Comeau: Fiber Collage
Selected Group Exhibitions
2020 Fuller Craft Museum, Brockton, MA, Human Impact: Stories of the Opioid Epidemic
Textile Center, Minneapolis, MN, Art Cloth Network, Full Circle
Fort Collins Museum of Art, Colorado, FiberArt International 2019
2019 Fitchburg Art Museum, Fitchburg, MA, 84th Regional Exhibition of Art and Craft,
Awarded Peter McCollum FAM Staff Prize
FiberArt International, Pittsburgh, PA
Danforth Art Museum, Framingham, MA, DRESSED
Fuller Craft Museum, Brockton, MA, Context: Language, Media, and Meaning from Surface Design AssociatesWeir Farm Weir Farm National Historic Site, Wilton CT, Women's Sphere (Is Wherever She Makes Good)
Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the Senate, Boston, MA, Seat at the Table
Galatea Gallery, Boston, MA, Eliot School Faculty Taking Form: Fibers and Fabric
Umbrella Community Arts Center, Concord, MA, Migration
Davis Gallery, Worcester, MA, Stitched: Knot What It Seams
2018 3S ArtSpace, Portsmouth, NH, Glass Ceiling: Limitless View
Surface Design Association, Order/Chaos, online exhibition
Bottel Stoekel Gallery, CT, Friends of Norfolk Artists, Dedication
Viridian Artists, New York, NY, Evil Plastic
New Arts Center, Newton, MA, STITCH: Syntax/Action/Reaction
2017 Lamont Gallery, Phillips Exeter Academy, NH, Possible Subject Positions
2016 Motherbrook Arts and Community Center, Dedham, MA,The Fragile Season
Fitchburg Art Museum, Fitchburg, MA, 81st Regional Exhibition of Art and Craft
Danforth Art Museum, Framingham, MA, Danforth Art Annual
2015 Three Stones Gallery, Concord, MA, Full Circle
2014 Museums of Old York, ME, Unraveled: Contemporary New England Fiber Art
Wedeman Art Gallery, Yamawaki Cultural Center, Lasell College, Newton, MA, The Sum is Larger Than It’s Parts
Three Stones Gallery, Concord, MA
Mother Brook Arts Center, Dedham, MA, Flirt
2013 Danforth Art Museum, Framingham, MA, Community of Artists
Concord Art Association, Concord, MA, A Room of Our Own
Dana Hall Art Gallery, Wellesley, MA, Fashion and Fiber Art
Nave Gallery Annex, Somerville, MA, The Knit Art House in Crochetville
2012 Danforth Art Museum, Framingham, MA, Off The Wall
Cambridge Art Association, Cambridge, MA, 68th Members Prize Show and NorthEast Prize Exhibition
Concord Art Association, Concord, MA, Members Juried II
The Warner Babcock Institute & Beyond Benign, Wilmington, MA,Tales From A Test Tube
NK Gallery, Boston, MA
Nave Gallery, Somerville, MA, Threads Bared
2011 Cushing-Martin Gallery, Stonehill College, Easton, MA, Stitched: Nature Constructed
Trustman Gallery, Simmons College, Boston, MA, Rumble at the Media Mash-up
Concord Art Association, Concord, MA, Members Juried II
Riverworks Gallery, Greenville, South Carolina, Textiles in a Tube
2010 Danforth Art Museum, Framingham, MA, Off The Wall, Staff Picks
Cambridge Art Association, Cambridge, MA, Northeast Prize Exhibition
Pure Light Gallery, Turners Falls, MA, Art From Detritus
2009 Danforth Art Museum, Framingham, MA, Mixed Media/Fiber,
Textile Center, Minneapolis, MN, Nothing New
Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, Jamaica Plain, Artists in the Arboretum
Artspace Gallery, Maynard, MA, Edge
Concord Art Association, Concord, MA, Roddy Open Competition
Cambridge Art Association, Cambridge, MA, RED
Caladan Gallery, Nature, on-line
ALL Gallery, Lowell, MA, Fabrications
BHCC Art Gallery, Bunker Hill Community College, Boston, MA, Art Gone Green
2008 Silvermine Guild Arts Center, New Canaan, CT, Craft USA
Coconino Community College, Flagstaff, AZ, Surface: Layered
Carney Gallery, Fine Arts Center, Regis College, Weston, MA, A Fixed Point: New Art from the Old North Bridge,
Gallery 51, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, North Adams, MA, Bloom
Green Mountain Cultural Center, Waitsfield, VT, Art in the Round Barn
Bunker Hill Community College, Boston, MA, Women of the Cloth
Worcester Center for Crafts, MA, Petal Pushers
Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, IL, Clay and Fiber
Cambridge Art Association, Cambridge, MA, Members Prize Show
Cambridge Art Association, Cambridge, MA, Northeast Prize Exhibition
Concord Art Association, Concord, MA, A Fixed Point: New Art from the Old North Bridge
Caladan Gallery, Plant Life, on-line
2007 Concord Art Association, Members Juried II, Juror's Award, Lucy Lacoste
119 Gallery, Lowell, MA, Seek Alternative Roots
Artist Residencies
2019 Turkey Land Cove Foundation, Martha’s Vineyard, MA
2018 Weir Farm Art Center, Weir Farm National Historic Site, CT
2017 Catoctin Mountain Park, MD
2017 Weir Farm Art Center, Weir Farm National Historic Site, CT
2016 Acadia National Park, Maine
2013 McIninch Gallery, Southern New Hampshire University, Manchester, NH
2012 The Hambidge Center for the Creative Arts and Science, Creative Residency Program, Rabun Gap, Georgia
2009 Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, Vermont
Artist Talks and Lectures
2020 Fiberarts Guild of Pittsburgh, Artist Talk
2019 Galatea Gallery, Boston, Artist Talk
Umbrella Center for Community Art, Concord, MA, Panelist: Migration
2018
Chandler Gallery, Maud Morgan Art Center, Cambridge, MA, Artist Talk, Family of Origin
New Art Center, Newton, MA, Panelist, STITCH: Syntax, Action, Reaction
First Parish, Concord, MA, Guest Speaker, Whose Mercy: Reflections of a Teaching Artist for the Department of Youth Services
2017 Phillips Exeter Academy, NH, Panelist, Possible Subject Positions
Weir Farm National Historic Site, Wilton, CT, Artist in Residence Artist Talk
Catoctin Mountain National Park, Artist in Residence Artist Talk
2016 Danforth Art Annual, Exhibiting Artist Talk
Umbrella Center for the Arts, Concord, MA, Panelist, Art and Healing
2015 Quinobequin Quilters, Needham, MA, Artist Talk
2014 Museums of Old York, York, ME, Guest Lecturer, Contemporary Fiber Art: An Artist’s Perspective
2013 Danforth Museum of Art, Artist Talks and Workshops: Teen Docent Training Program
Concord Art Association, Concord, MA, Moderator: Artist Panel: Coaching Groups for Artists
2012 Nave Gallery, Somerville, MA, Artist Talk
2011 Weir Farm National Historic Site, Wilton, CT, Artist in residence Artist Talk
Stonehill College, Panelist, Stitched: Nature Constructed
Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, Artist Talk
2008 Endicott College Expressive Therapies Program, Beverly, MA, Guest Lecturer
Groton Public Library, Groton, MA, Artist Talk, Botanical Inspirations
Legislative Breakfast, State House, Boston MA, Guest speaker, Therapeutic Community Projects
Northeast Family Institute, Danvers, MA, Board Meeting, Guest speaker, Therapeutic Community Projects
Regis College, Weston, MA, Artist Talk, Fixed Point
Concord Art Association, Concord, MA, Moderator, Panel Discussion: Artists Talk about Fixed Point
Curating/Jurying
2020 Fiberarts Guild of Pittsburgh, 2020 Membership Exhibition, Juror, For Your Consideration
2009-14 Concord Art Association, MA, Juror, Members’ Exhibitions and Concord Carlisle High School Scholarship Awards
Franklin Art Association Members Exhibition, Franklin, MA, Juror
2013 Concord Art Association, 2013, Artist Curator, A Room of Our Own: Eleven Artists One Self Coaching Group
2012 Concord Art Association, Concord, MA, Co-Artist Curator, Consuming Passion
Concord Art Association, Concord, MA, Curatorial Assistant, Present/Future: A Showcase of Emerging Artists Concord Art Association
2010 Cloth Paper Scissors Magazine, Interweave Press, Juror, Mixed Media Artist Competition
Public Collections
Danforth Art Museum, Framingham, MA
Lahey Hospital, West Lobby, Burlington, MA
Schepens Eye Research Institute of Harvard University, Boston, MA
Stamford Hospital, CT
UMass Memorial Cancer Center, Marlborough Hospital Cancer Pavilion, Marlborough, MA
Children’s Hospital Boston, MA
Children’s Hospital Boston, Kent Street Residence, Brookline, MA
Meditech, MA
North Hill, Needham, MA
80 Thoreau, Farm to Table Restaurant, Concord, MA
First Parish in Concord, MA
Professional Affiliations and Education
Member: Art Cloth Network
Textile Study Group of New York,
Psychological First Aid and Post Traumatic Stress Management, Riverside Trauma Center, Boston
Visual Thinking Strategies Practicum, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
Interim Program Director Training, Unitarian Universalist Association
Artists Professional Toolbox, Boston, MA
Boston University, Continuing Education, Art History
Boston Architectural College, Architecture and Interior Design
B.A., Social Theory and Political Economics, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA