Art Activism through Textiles

Gualala Arts is proud to present Art Activism through Textiles, a compelling solo exhibition by textile artist Ileana Soto. This exhibit features six powerful works from Soto’s acclaimed 2024 group show Make a Way, created in collaboration with three fellow artists and inspired by the enduring legacy of civil rights icon John R. Lewis.

Lewis’s call to “make good trouble” and “find a way out of no way” resonates throughout Soto’s work, which responds to the alarming erosion of voting rights in the United States beginning in 2021. Through cloth and paper, Soto channels her concern and conviction into vibrant, layered compositions that speak to justice, identity, and civic engagement.

Highlights include V is for Voting, a rare whole-cloth piece created entirely through screenwork with thickened dye—no cutting or piecing required. In Barbie Votes, Soto reimagines the iconic figure as a champion for civic participation, blending playful imagery with pointed commentary in response to the cultural moment sparked by the 2023 Barbie film.

Soto’s textile journey is deeply rooted in her Romanian and Peruvian heritage, her training in art history and weaving, and her work as a family therapist using art as a tool for healing and communication. Her practice spans fiber sculpture, sewn collage, and art quilts with a surface design emphasis. She has exhibited across the U.S., Europe, and Australia, and was juried into the prestigious DeYoung Open in San Francisco in both 2020 and 2023.

A member of the Art Cloth Network and the Textile Study Group of New York, Soto continues to nurture a vibrant international community of artists. She lives and works in the San Francisco Bay Area, where her indoor and outdoor studios overlook a lush garden that inspires her daily.

Join us for the opening reception on Friday, December 4, from 4 to 6 pm at the Gualala Arts Center’s Coleman Hall. Admission is free and all are welcome.