Meet Regina Jestrow | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Regina Jestrow and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Regina, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
My work-life balance has totally changed during the pandemic, and for the good of my art career, I believe. I am fortunate enough to be able to work from home for my day-job, and have my studio in my home. I wake up very early in the morning, and focus on either writing or applications for art, or get work emails and tasks out of the way (depending on what’s the most pressing, or deadlines). As soon as I am done with my day-job stuff I get right into the studio and work on my own projects. Having everything I need at home allows me to still spend time with my family and take care of my pups.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My geometric installations, sculptures, paintings, and textile work stem from my ongoing research of historical women’s movements and American quilt history and their connections. I learned how to sew as a child from my mother and borrow traditions from quilt making in my artistic practice. I use textiles as my primary vehicle for storytelling to construct tangible intimate memories. A familial medium, as my mother taught her daughters and grandchildren how to sew, crochet, and knit. Utilizing improvisation, contrast, repeat patterns, and shifts in scale, I incorporate colors, textures, and structures representative of the natural surroundings in South Florida. Due to my continuing interests in creating relationships between self and place, I explore American architecture, Folk-Art Quilting, and geometric patterns in the natural environment. Geometric-abstract artists from the mid to late twentieth century that have influenced my work include Gees Bend quilters, Elizabeth Murray, Monir Shahroudy, Carmen Herrera, Helen Frankenthaler, and Gego.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
When friends visit from out of town, we usually do dinner and/or lunch in the Grove. We would go to ICA and cruise the Design District, visit the PAMM, and have a picnic at Fairchild Tropical Garden. One or two nights we stay home and grill some snapper, make some homemade pasta, and chill on the back porch with Petrilina, our Green Amazon Parrot, and our dogs, Bucket and Beans.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There is so much love and support in Miami. Amazing friends have helped with studio visits, problem-solving, proof-reading, moving, recommendations and installations. To name a few invaluable friends: Kerry Philips, Lucinda Linderman, Dainy Tapia, Moira Holohan, Jennifer Basile, Yomarie Silva, Natalia Garcia-Lee, Susan Caraballo, and Kim Yantis. (I know I am missing a bunch of ladies, but you are all so important to me).

Miami Dade County and Oolite Arts are both amazingly financially supportive. Over the last 2-1/2 years I’ve had the honor of receiving considerable Covid relief grants, Artist Access Grants for research and residencies, The Ellies Creators Award for equipment, and the MIA Stipend for new work.

I recently had a solo exhibition at Laundromat Art Space (a survey of my Americana Quilt Series). Shout-out to Dainy Tapia for curating and Ronald Sanchez for running that great space.

I of course have to give the loudest shout-out to my husband, Brett. Because of his loving support and life partnership, I am able to pursue my dreams of working as a professional artist.

Website: reginajestrow.com

Instagram: @reginajestrow

Linkedin: @reginajestrow

Facebook: @reginajestrow

Image Credits
All the gallery images and the quilt on the blue wall are photographed by Michael Lopez, and taken at Laundromat Art Space.