About The Artist

Imani W. Russell, creator of Indigo's Friends Up-cycled Fiber Art Designs, a maker of objects created primarily from reclaimed fabrics, found objects, and hand stitched. She is largely self taught but credits her subconscious influence and abilities to her resourceful and creative mother, Mabel.

Indigo's Friends was created in the early nineties via the confluence of incidents and interests; including the passing of a dear friend, the enchantment with a fictional character in an extraordinary novel, and the discovery and reverence for the Gullah Geechee culture of the south eastern region of the u.s.

PROCESS:

I am fascinated with the color and texture of fabrics and finds that have a past. Natural materials once used as a garment or utility often present a supple quality that lends itself to the possibility of an extended life; practically welcoming the edits of plant based dyes and the intentional stitch from hand. My re-creations are often improvisational as I am led, with pleasure, by the materials themselves. Once I’ve achieved a rhythm that reveals the soul of the piece, I weave in found objects, contrasting textures, and employ the embroidery embellishments that I am fond of.

AWARDS:

2024 - CURATOR’S CHOICE AWARD. FASCINATING FIBER/ALLURING FABRIC EXHIBIT. DEL RAY ARTISANS. Alexandria, VA

2022 - JUROR’S CHOICE AWARD. QUILTS=ARTS=QUILTS EXHIBIT. SCHWEINFURTH MEMORIAL ARTS CENTER. Auburn, NY

RESIDENCY:

2006 - QUINTANA ROO, MEXICO. SPONSORED by the MID-ATLANTIC ARTS FOUNDATION & ARLINGTON, VA CULTURAL AFFAIRS DIV.

AiR:

2018 - Present: Portico Gallery & Studios. 3807 RI Avenue, Studio#3. Brentwood, MD 20722

2009 - 2018: Gateway Artist Studios. 4303 RI Avenue, Brentwood, MD 20722

Board member: DelRay Artisans - Alexandria, VA 2013 - 2015

EXHIBITS INCLUDE:

April - June, 2025 “AS LONG AS I HAVE BREATH”. Group Exhibition. Sandy Springs Museum. Sandy Springs, MD

January - February, 2025 “PIECED TOGETHER WE ARE WHOLE”. Group Exhibition. McLean Project for the Arts. McLean, VA

December - February, 2025 “in need of good folk…MAGIC FOLK LIKE US”. Group Exhibition. William Grant Still Arts Center. Los Angeles, CA

September 2024 “FASCINATING FIBER/ALLURING FABRIC” Group Exhibition. Del Ray Artisans. Alexandria, Virginia

October - March 2024 “THE CALLING: The Transformative Power of African American Doll and Puppet Making”. Group Exhibition. City Lore Gallery. 56 E. 1st ST. NY, NY 10003.

February - March 2023 “THE VILLAGE OF AFRICAN AMERICAN DOLL ARTISTS“ Group Exhibition. The Frederick Douglass - Isaac Myers Museum. Fells Point, Baltimore, MD

October - January 2023 “QUILTS = ART= QUILTS”. Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center. Group Exhibition. Auburn, NY

February - March 2022 “UP NEXT” Duet exhibition. African American Storytelling in various mediums. The Art Gallery @ Greenbelt Community Center, Greenbelt, MD

January - March 2022 INDIGO’S FRIENDS ART DOLLS - Featured Window Exhibit. Storytelling through an array of Up-cycled soft sculptures. Brentwood Arts Exchange, Brentwood, MD

June - November 2021 “QUILTED SKETCHES AND MORE” Group Exhibition. MiXT - 3809 RI Avenue, Brentwood, MD

January - May 2021 “STITCHED ALCHEMY” Intersecting Blackness with Material Resilience. Solo Exhibition. Portico Gallery & Studios, Brentwood, MD

March - May 2020 “MOVING FORWARD” Group Exhibition. Brentwood Arts Exchange. Brentwood, MD

February 18, 2020 “AFRICAN AMERICAN DOLL MAKING AND PUPPETRY”. Renegotiating Identity, Restoring Community. Group Exhibition and Lecture series. Thomas Jefferson Building. Library of Congress. Washington, DC

January - March 2020 “CHRONICLES OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN JOURNEY THROUGH FIBER ARTS”. Group Exhibition. Montpelier Arts Center. Laurel, MD

January - February 2019 “STITCHES” Group Exhibition. You Are Here Art Gallery. Jeanette, PA

2017 Artomatic. Group Exhibition. Crystal City, VA

2017 Brentwood Arts Exchange. Group Exibition. Brentwood, MD

2016 Anacostia Arts Center. Memory Flood. Group Exhibition. Washington, DC

2016. Francine Haskins Studio. Group Exhibition. NE, Washington, DC

2015 Gallery 39 - Gateway Arts District. Group Exhibition. Brentwood, MD

2014 Arlington Central Library. Two Artist Exhibition. Arlington, VA.

2013 Gallery Serengeti. Group Exhibit. Capital Heights, MD.

2012 Morrisana Doll Society. Group Exhibit. Harlem, NYC

2012 The Graham Collection. Group Exhibition. Washington, DC

2010 The Ellipse Art Gallery. Group Exhibition. Arlington, VA

RECENT TEACHING EXPERIENCE:

2023 Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center, Auburn, NY. “Story Telling Through the Art of Cloth Doll Composition”. Workshop & Lecture

Imani W. Russell owns the rights to all creations, text, and photos posted on this site. 2006 - current. All rights are protected under the U.S. and international copyrights laws. Last update 2025