Artist Statement
Teresa Fiehn Millies is Tarot Card Reader and meta-modern quilt and fabric artist that uses traditional motifs and improvisational techniques to invoke both familiarity and dissonance to the viewer. She uses traditional methods to create modern quilts driven by her inner worlds and experiences.
She believes that the creative process is meant to foster our human need for connection and beauty, and she achieves this with an open and playful style.
Informed by her Tarot practice she understands that basic elements carry archetypal energy, Teresa uses color and shapes intentionally. Colors have their own unique vibration, which can affect our aura in many ways. Shapes can help us to remember a piece of our shared human experience.
She believes that creating with hands and fabric connects you relationally to the generations of women who came before you. Quiltmaking and handwork have deep roots in necessity and a long history of social resistance. This is a reminder of the resilience of women throughout history and of the importance of passing down traditions.
Teresa is an artist with 30 years of experience in needle, thread, and fabric crafts. She was trained by her grandmother, aunts, mother, and peers.
Teresa has been featured in The Beacon News, The Daily Herald, Voyage Chicago, and The Yetee blog. In 2020, Teresa was invited to join panel discussions on creativity hosted by the City of Aurora Public Art Commission and The Paramount School of the Arts. Over the last 12 years,Teresa has been featured in 50+ group art shows in Aurora, IL, Her art is a common fixture downtown. She is a member of the Chicago Modern Quilt Guild and was shown at Paducah Quilt Week in 2023. Teresa currently resides in Aurora, IL.
EXHIBITIONS
2023 - “School Yard Fight” shown in Small Quilts at Paducah Quilt Week April 23-27, Paduchah, KY
2022 - “Pink <3 Orange” won First Place Ribbon in Miniatures at Harvest of Quilts, Dekalb, IL
2022 - “Plus for Plus” won Second Place Ribbon in Minitaures at Harvest of Quilts, Dekalb, IL
2012-2019 Work shown in 40+ pop ups with ArtBar, Two Brothers, Aurora, IL
2019 - First Friday Group Show, The Aurora Taphouse, Aurora, IL
2019 - Softness, group show, Arcana Studios, Aurora, IL
2019 - Women to the Front, group show, InkBar Tattoo, North Aurora, IL
2018 - First Friday Group Show, The Web, Aurora, IL
2017 - ArtBar Poster Artist and exhibitor, The Desire Show, Two Brothers, Aurora, IL
2016 - Poster Artist and exhibitor, Alley Art Fest Show, If These Walls Could Talk Gallery, Aurora, IL
2015 - Found Art, four artists, Emergent Gallery, Aurora, IL
2014 - ArtBar Poster Artist and exhibitor, The Selfie Show, Two Brothers, Aurora, IL
2013 - Crochet Mandalas, solo show, Big Brother Big Sisters, Two Brothers, Aurora, IL
PROJECTS
October 2022 - Inspiration Oracle - A Quilter’s Prompt Deck
September 2022-April 2023 - Creator and Host of Ninth Arcana Podcast - A Tarot Podcast
August 2021 - Utility Box Artist for City of Aurora
August 2020 - 7 Yarn Bombs crochet installations for Alley Art Fest, Downtown Aurora
May 2020 - “Separate Together” Covid-19 Lawn Sign for Aurora Art Commission
April 2020 - “When The Rain Ends, What Will We Be”, Downtown Aurora
October 2019 - “Spiders” Halloween Installation, Downtown Aurora
August 2019 - “Arrow” crochet installation for Alley Art Fest, Downtown Aurora
August 2019 - “Art” crochet installation for Alley Art Fest, Downtown Aurora
July 2019 - “Stolp Butterfly” Outdoor installation on Stolp, Downtown Aurora
June 2019 - ”Pride Trees” Outdoor installation on Water Street Mall, Downtown Aurora
May 2018 - “Tarot: It’s Not that Serious” Zine, Chicago Zine Fest
May 2018 - “How To Mediate” Zine, Chicago Zine Fest
October 2018 - “Cobwebs” Outdoor installation on Stolp and Downer, Downtown Aurora
June 2018 - “Movement” Outdoor installation on Stolp and Downer, Downtown Aurora
November 2017 - March 2020 “Third Arcana” self published metaphysical zine
September 2016 - Label art for Modest Coffee Artist Series