“The modern history of Kimono fascinated me. Kimono is the intersection of art, craft and the need to keep warm on a cold night. Traditionally they are family heirlooms, cherished and lovingly passed down through generations. Their basic silhouette and structure flatters all body shapes and sizes. They are the most elegant of uniforms in their beauty and simplicity. They allow the wearer to be both a part of a group and to stand out as her own person.

The use of kimonos combined with the concept of Wabi Sabi – the beauty of imperfection and the idea of Boroboro – that act of mending and reusing something tattered and worn plays an important role in my creative process.”

– Betz Bernhard

FEATURED WORKS

Her two dogs, often trailing behind her, might nudge or nose a piece of fabric that will be the perfect addition to a new piece, leading her audience down a heartwarming anecdote that one can feel throughout her body of work. Bernhard’s repurposed fabric art is constructed like an abstract painting, letting chance and intuition guide her creative process.

As a lover of vintage ephemera, chocolate, and the simple joy of creating, her work encourages lighthearted connections and a sentiment of nostalgia.