"My practice investigates how identity is constructed, layered, and circulated through material and image. I am interested in accumulation, distortion, tension, and the ways materials can register time, labor, memory, and gesture."

- Brandi Kole 

Brandi Kole. Liminal, 2026. Thread, acrylic, canvas. 20 x 26 in

Brandi kole

Brandi Kole earned her BFA at the University of Arizona, specializing in Painting, Drawing, and Mixed Media. Raised in a family of matriarchs, Kole was introduced to fiber art at a young age by her grandmother and mother. Drawing inspiration from these early experiences, Kole combines embroidery with collage-style painting, resulting in striking mixed media fiber works. Her art is distinguished by the use of loose loops of thread and recycled materials. Kole currently maintains studios in Minneapolis, MN   and Tucson, AZ.

1. What is impacting your practice at the moment?

Brandi Kole: I think I’m really interested in giving myself permission to experiment more. I’ve spent a lot of time figuring out what my work is and what my voice is, and right now I’m less interested in defining it and more interested in seeing where I can take it. I’m wanting to make things that feel a little less predictable, work bigger, work in different ways, give myself room to make things that might not work.
 

Brandi Kole. Coneflower, 2025. Thread, acrylic, canvas. 25 x 34 in 

2. What work are you most excited to make next?

BK: I’m looking forward to expanding my practice into 3D and installation work. I’ve dabbled in it in the past, and I’m really into the experimentation and learning phase. I want to play around and allow myself to make mistakes.

3. What first comes to mind when you think of the month of September? Do you have a personal connection to it?

BK: I looove September. It feels like the perfect introduction to fall with the weather getting cooler but still being beautiful outside. It’s a transition month and that really speaks to me. It feels like change, and change is always inspiring.

Brandi Kole. Linger, 2026. Thread, acrylic, canvas. 30 x 33 IN

4. How do you decide what materials to work with for each piece? Do you plan out your materials and their placement beforehand?

BK: I have a big bucket of recycled materials that I dig through at the start of each piece. I’ll pull things out and  hold them in my hands and see what feels right. I don’t usually have everything planned out beforehand. I like the process to be really organic and let the materials do their thing. Sometimes a piece of fabric will inspire the whole piece.
 

Brandi Kole. Poppy, 2025. Thread, acrylic, canvas. 26 x 34 in

5. Is there anything you would tell your younger self?

BK: My younger self was deeply insecure, so I would tell her that things get better. I’d tell her that one day she’ll stop caring so much about what people think about her and her work. I’d tell her that her point of view matters and that one day people will value it. I think she just needed to hear that she was worthy of being seen.

6. Since you work with alternative surfaces, is there anything you struggle with during your process?

BK: I struggle with finishing things. My work is so intuitive and for me the process is the most important part, so sometimes the finished product matters less. I try to be as present as possible while I’m making something and let the piece evolve naturally. Usually I know something is finished when I no longer want to work on it. When I’m no longer excited to keep messing with it, I know it’s probably done.

Brandi Kole. Reclaim, 2024. thread, acrylic, canvas. 48 x 36 in

7. Are there any artists or art styles that influence your work?

BK: I’m obviously really inspired by textiles and past generations of fiber art. My grandmother taught me how to sew so she is very much inspires my work. A lot of the materials I use come from family textiles or things that have been passed down, so there’s a personal history attached to the materials before I even start working with them.I feel like each textile or piece of fiber is its own work of art that gets to find a new life within my work. It feels a little like a collaboration across generations. Each piece of fabric has its own history and brings its own inspiration.

Brandi Kole. Lilium, 2024. thread, acrylic, canvas. 40 x 40 in    

 

" Each piece of fabric has its own history and brings its own inspiration."

- Brandi Kole