Donna Radner's Studio - a color palette in fabric
Color, pattern, and texture in fabric are my starting point in designing quilts. I explore visual texture in fabric and in nature, working intuitively, without preplanning, letting the quilts take on a life of their own.
My techniques have developed over time as I pursued my own vision in fabric. At first, I worked primarily by piecing, using many different hand-dyed and commercial fabrics. As my work evolved, I added fused applique and heavy machine quilting for even more texture and complexity.
Captivated by the striations found in in nature, my recent work is a series of fused landscapes inspired by the ocean, the rocks and canyons in the western National Parks and the rocky coast of Maine. My latest series reflects the strength and beauty of tree trunks as they survive over time.
If viewing my work inspires you to feel what I feel when I look at nature, I will have achieved my goal as an artist.
| 2022 | FIBER FRIENDS EXHIBIT - Friendship Gallery, Chevy Chase, Maryland - April 11-May 14, 2022 |
| 2021 | NEEDLECHASERS OF CHEVY CHASE QUILT SHOW, Kensington Armory, Kensington, Maryland |
| 2020 | WORKING WITH THE MUSE - A REGIONAL EXHIBIT OF STUDIO ART QUILT ASSOCIATES, Strathmore Mansion, Bethesda, Maryland - February 29-April 19, 2020 |
| 2019 | ANNAPOLIS QUILT GUILD - QUILTS BY MARYLANDERS SHOW, United States District Court of Maryland, Greenbelt, Maryland - February-May 2019 |
| FIBER ART EXHIBIT - Friendship Heights Gallery, Village Center, Chevy Chase, Maryland - May 6-June 1, 2019 | |
| CREATIVE CRAFTS COUNCIL BIANNUAL EXHIBITION, Strathmore Mansion, Bethesda, Maryland - June 1-July 31, 2019 | |
| 2018 | NEEDLECHASERS OF CHEVY CHASE QUILT SHOW, Kensington Armory, Kensington, Maryland |
| ARTIST OF THE YEAR - Washington Ethical Society, Washington, D.C. | |
| 2017 | CREATIVE CRAFTS COUNCIL EXHIBITION - Strathmore Mansion, Bethesda, Maryland - April 8-May 21, 2017 |
| RECENT WORK BY DONNA RADNER - G St. Fabrics, Rockville, Maryland - February 1-April 15, 2017 | |
| SMITH COLLEGE 50TH REUNION ART EXHIBITION - Alumnae House, Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts - April 26-August 4, 2017 | |
| 2016 | TWO BY TWENTY - Studio Art Quilt Associates traveling exhibit |
| CONTEMPORARY ART QUILTS - Arts Barn, Kentlands, Gaithersburg, Maryland | |
| CHALLENGE QUILTS for Quilting Green, Black Market Bistro, Kensington, Maryland | |
| 2015 | STRIATIONS - Black Rock Center for the Arts, Kay Gallery, Germantown, Maryland - March 5-28, 2015: solo show of my latest work |
| TWO BY TWENTY - Studio Art Quilt Associates exhibit traveling to European and other venues till 2017 | |
| CREATIVE CRAFTS COUNCIL EXHIBITION - Strathmore Mansion, Bethesda, Maryland | |
| SACRED THREADS EXHIBIT 2015 - Herndon, Virginia | |
| QUARTET - Glenview Art Gallery, Rockville, Maryland, September 2015 | |
| ART EXHIBIT - Gallery for Good, Washington, District of Columbia | |
| 2014 | QUILTS=ART=QUILTS - Schweinfurth Art Center, Auburn, New York |
| 2013 | COMMON THREADS - DIFFERENT VIEWS - Dennis and Phillip Ratner Museum, Bethesda, Maryland |
| SACRED THREADS EXHIBIT 2013, Herndon, Virginia | |
| CREATIVE CRAFTS COUNCIL EXHIBIT - Strathmore Mansion, Bethesda, Maryland | |
| 2012 | ART QUILTS - Johns Hopkins University, Montgomery County Campus, Lobby Building 3, Rockville, Maryland |
| OUR OWN VOICES - Glenview Mansion, Rockville, Maryland | |
| GEOMETRY TRANSFORMED - Betty Mae Kramer Gallery, Silver Spring, Maryland | |
| TRIBUTE TO FIBER ART - Black Rock Center for the Arts, Germantown, Maryland | |
| CG ART QUILTERS - Pinnacle Gallery, McLean, Virginia | |
| 2011 | HAPPINESS - Riffe Gallery, Columbus, Ohio |
| TRIBUTE TO FIBER ART, Black Rock Center for the Arts, Germantown, Maryland | |
| CREATIVE CRAFTS COUNCIL EXHIBIT - Strathmore Mansion, Rockville, Maryland | |
| 2010 | THREADS OF CHANGE - Dennis and Phillip Ratner Museum, Bethesda, Maryland |
| TRIBUTE TO FIBER ART - Blackrock Center for the Arts, Germantown, Maryland | |
| 2009 | FIBER V - Columbus Cultural Arts Center, Columbus, Ohio |
| TRIBUTE TO FIBER ART - Black Rock Center for the Arts, Germantown, Maryland | |
| Lecture and Trunk Show - Textile Museum, Washington, District of Columbia | |
| Washington National Cathedral, District of Columbia: Featured Artist at Sacred Circles | |
| CREATIVE CRAFT COUNCIL EXHBIT - Strathmore Mansion, Rockville, Maryland | |
| 2008 | Lecture and Trunk Show - Textile Museum, Washington, District of Columbia |
| QUILTER'S HERITAGE CELEBRATION, Lancaster, Pennsylvania | |
| 2007 | CREATIVE CRAFT COUNCIL EXHIBIT - Strathmore Mansion, Rockville, Maryland |
| 2006 | Lecture and Trunk Show - Textile Museum, Washington, District of Columbia |
| FIBER'S FINEST - William Gilchrist Museum, Cumberland, Maryland | |
| COLOR FLOW - G Street Fabrics Exhibit, Rockville, Maryland | |
| 2005 | CREATIVE CRAFTS COUNCIL SHOW - Strathmore Mansion, Rockville, Maryland |
| EXHIBIT OF NEW WORK BY DONNA RADNER - Glenview Mansion, Rockville, Maryland | |
| 2004 | A MATTER OF SCALE - Tuesday Quilters Show, Rockville, Arts Place |
| WE MAKE THE ROAD BY WALKING - Bread and Roses Cultural Project Show, New York, New York | |
| 2003 | TRIBUTE TO FIBER ARTISTS - Artists’ Museum, Washington, District of Columbia |
| CIRCLE OF LIFE - Creative Crafts Council Show, Strathmore Hall, Rockville, Maryland | |
| OFF THE BED AND ON TO THE WALL - Old World Print Gallery, Richmond, Virginia | |
| TUESDAY QUILTERS EXHIBIT - Potter's House, Washington, District of Columbia | |
| 2002 | ART QUILTS BY FOUR FIBER ARTISTS - Glenview Mansion, Rockville, Maryland |
| 2001 | 2001 ALL MEDIED JURIED EXHIBITION - Arlington Arts Center, Arlington, Virginia |
| 2000 | THE HISTORICAL PRECEDENT FOR THE ART QUILT - DAR Museum, Washington, District of Columbia |
| MINDING YOUR P'S AND Q'S - Lynchburg Fine Arts Center, Lynchburg Virginia | |
| PAINTING WITH FABRIC - Northern Virginia Jewish Community Center, Fairfax, Virginia | |
| 1999 | NEW DIRECTIONS IN FIBER - Glenview Mansion Art Gallery, Civic Center Park, Rockville, Maryland |
| QUILTER'S HERITAGE CELEBRATION, Lancaster, Pennsylvania | |
| RECENT WORK BY DONNA RADNER - G Street Fabrics, Rockville, Maryland | |
| 1998 | CONTEMPORARY QUILTS - Rock Creek Gallery, Washington, District of Columbia |
| 1997 | IMPROVISATION WITHIN A STRUCTURE: NEW WORK BY DONNA RADNER - G Street Fabrics, Rockville, Maryland |
| BARGELLO AMD BEYOND: QUILTS BY DONNA RADNER - G Street Fabrics, Centerville, Virginia | |
| CONTEMPORARY QUILTS BY DONNA RADNER - Bamboozled, Bethesda, Maryland | |
| NEW WORKS: CONTEMPORARY QUILTS - Mansion Art Gallery, Rockville, Maryland | |
| QUILTER'S HERITAGE CELEBRATION, Lancaster, Pennsylvania | |
| AIQA SHOW and TACTILE ARCHITECTURE - Houston, Texas | |
| 1996 | TACTILE ARCHITECTURE - Montpelier, Virginia / Lyon, France / Houston, Texas |
| AMERICAN QUILTER'S SOCIETY SHOW, Paducah, Kentucky | |
| QUILTER'S HERITAGE CELEBRATION, Lancaster, Pennsylvania | |
| IMPRESSIONS OF NATURE: Contemporary Quilts by Donna Radner and Verena Levine - G Street Fabrics, Rockville, Maryland | |
| 1995 | NATURAL IMPRESSIONS II - Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, Santa Barbara, California |
| QUILTER'S HERITAGE CELEBRATION - Lancaster, Pennsylvania | |
| MID-ATLANTIC QUILT FESTIVAL - Williamsburg, Virginia | |
| QUILTS=ART=QUILTS - Schweinfurth Art Center, Auburn, New York | |
| COMMUNITY - The Sumner School, Washington, District of Columbia | |
| TUESDAY QUILTER"S SHOW - Rockville Arts Place, Rockville, Maryland | |
| 1994 | TACTILE ARCHITECTURE - Decatur House, Washington, District of Columbia |
| THE CRAFTS COLLECTION 1994 - Strathmore Hall, Bethesda, Maryland | |
| CHANGES - G Street Fabrics, Rockville, Maryland | |
| AMERICAN QUILTER'S SOCIETY SHOW - Paducah, Kentucky | |
| QUILTER'S HERITAGE CELEBRATION – Lancaster, Pennsylvania | |
| TUESDAY QUILTER"S SHOW - Rockville Arts Place, Rockville, Maryland | |
| 1992 | LAFAYETTE SQUARE AND BEYOND - Gaithersburg City Gallery, Gaithersburg, Maryland |
| The Dadian Gallery, Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington, District of Columbia | |
| AMERICAN QUILTER'S SOCIETY SHOW, Paducah, Kentucky | |
| QUILTER'S HERITAGE CELEBRATION, Lancaster, Pennsylvania | |
| TACTILE ARCHITECTURE - Decatur House, Washington, District of Columbia | |
| CONTEMPORARY QUILTS BY VERENA LEVINE AND DONNA RADNER - Friendship Gallery, Chevy Chase, Maryland | |
| 1991 | BARGELLO AND BEYOND - G Street Fabrics, Rockville, Maryland |
| 1990 | PAINTING WITH FABRIC - G Street Fabrics, Rockville, Maryland |
| 1988-91 | HOLIDAY CRAFT SHOW, The Art Barn, Washington, District of Columbia |
| 1987-90 | ART IN EMABASSIES PROGRAM, United States Department of State |
| 1986 | PATTERNED IMAGES - Community Quilts, Bethesda, Maryland |
| 1985 | THE QUILTMAKER AS ARTIST - Community Quilts, Bethesda, Maryland |
| 2003 | BEST IN SHOW - Circle of Life Exhibit, Creative Crafts Council Show, Strathmore Hall, Rockville, Maryland, for “Underwater Life 2” |
| 1994 | JUDGES' AWARD for BEST USE OF COLOR - Quilts=Art=Quilts, Schweinfurth Art Center, Auburn, New York |
| 1992 | FIRST PLACE AWARD for "Fantasia", American Quilter's Society |
| FIRST PLACE AWARD for "Watercolor Pools", Quilter's Heritage Celebration, Lancaster, Pennsylvania | |
| INVITATIONAL SHOW "Nontraditional Views", Quilter's Heritage Celebration | |
| 1991 | THIRD PLACE AWARD for "Impressions of a Summer Day", Quilter's Heritage Celebration, Lancaster Pennsylvania |
| 1990 | THIRD PLACE AWARD for "Breaking Tradition", Quilts=Art=Quilts, Schweinfurth Art Center, Auburn New York |
| 2017 | Machine Quilting Unlimited Magazine, September-October 2017, "Landscape Quilts: Stitching Rocks" by Kit Robinson |
| 2016 | Quilting Arts Magazine, August-September 2016 |
| 2015 | "Two by Twenty" show catalog, Studio Art Quilt Associates. |
| Sacred Threads Exhibition 2015, CQS Press, Rockville, Maryland | |
| 2013 | Sacred Threads Exhibition 2013, CQS Press, Gaithersburg, Maryland |
| 2004 | Fiberarts Design Book 7, Lark Books |
| We Make the Road by Walking, 2004 art calendar produced by the Bread and Roses Cultural Project, Social Justice Calendar, Service Employees International Union, New York, New York | |
| 2003 | Colorful, Casual and Comfy Quilts, edited by Karen Bolesta, Rodale Books |
| 1999 | Quilter's Newsletter Magazine, July-August issue |
| 1998 | Art Quilt Magazine, #9 |
| 1997 | Optical Illusions for Quilters, Karen Combs, American Quilter's Society |
| A Quilter's Gallery, Marie Salazar, Michael Friendman Pulishing Group | |
| Quilter's Gallery 1997, All American Crafts, Inc. | |
| 1996 | Decorate with Quilts and Collections, Nancy Martin, That Patchwork Place. |
| America's Best Quilting Projects, edited by Jane Townswick, Rodale Press. | |
| 1995 | Lady's Circle Patchwork, August issue, "Watercolor Bargello Quilts" by Donna Radner |
| The Art and Craft of Quilting, Daisy Grubbs, Watson-Guptill | |
| "A Watercolor Trip Around the World", Traditional Quiltworks, February issue. | |
| 1994 | Award-Winning Quilts and their Makers, Vol. IV, American Quilter's Society |
| Threads, January issue, "Beyond Bargello Quilts" by Donna Radner | |
| 1992 | American Quilter, Fall issue |
| 1991 | Quilter's Newsletter Magazine, June and July issues |
| Lady's Circle Patchwork, July-August issue |
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