Sharon Havelka

"As a Southern artist, I am deeply influenced by my upbringing as a third-generation Chinese-American, whose family settled in Memphis after immigrating to the Mississippi Delta in the 1940s. I intentionally work with secondhand material gifted by friends and family, my practice continually evolving from the ever-changing supply of one-of-a-kind clothing, linens, and other household textiles. These worn materials, imbued with personal history and everyday utility, embody different generational identities while reflecting how societal roles and relationships shift over time. My work engages an intensive process of overstuffed quilting, rooted in the tradition of
trapunto. After each piece is quilted, I cut it open from the back, densely fill it with clothing scraps, and hand-stitch it closed, transforming the surface with richly textured relief. This process of reuse keeps sustainability at the core of my practice, while reinforcing the conceptual and material integrity of the work."

Havelka is a Chinese American artist whose work explores the intersections of heritage, memory, and material through her textile-based sculptures. She earned her BFA from the Memphis College of Art and has exhibited widely across the United States. Her pieces are part of permanent collections, including the City of Memphis Moveable Collection and the Mississippi Delta Chinese Heritage Museum."