Sterling Converse: Textile & Ceramic Arts
Sterling Converse
​​​My work is an intentional rebellion against fast fashion and disposable mass production, rooted instead in the deliberate rhythm of handwork. By bridging the worlds of fabric and clay, I craft tactile stories that demand time and presence.
My textile pieces are built through meticulous hand-stitching, custom-designed fabrics, and dense layers of color and texture to cultivate deep meaning. I frequently explore the form of the corset, using it to symbolize the rigid rules, expectations, and armor we adopt to present ourselves to the world—or the shapes we believe we must conform to in order to fit in.
This theatrical storytelling naturally expands into my ceramics, where I create primarily non-functional, handbuilt vessels that explore two distinct thematic worlds: the whimsical nostalgia of 1950s science fiction and organic investigations of nature rooted in the feminine form.
Whether manipulating textiles or earth, my practice remains a deep commitment to craftsmanship, playfulness, and the profound human connection embedded in things made by hand.
Artist Statement
Artist Bio
Sterling Converse is a fiber and ceramic artist based near Ann Arbor, Michigan. Her work sits at the intersection of sculpture, theater, and tactile storytelling.
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Drawing on over two decades of professional experience as a costume and set designer, she creates both structural art to wear and handbuilt ceramic sculptures that challenge the boundaries of functional forms. After years of working across the United States and alongside international collaborators, she returned to her Michigan roots in 2024 to focus on her multi-medium sculptural narrative.
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Wearable Art: Intentionally slow, hand-stitched textile pieces utilizing custom fabrics and layered textures to combat mass consumption.
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Key Motifs: Corsetry used as a conceptual symbol for societal expectations, conformity, and self-presentation.
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Sculptural Ceramics: Handbuilt, non-functional vessels exploring 1950s sci-fi nostalgia and the feminine form.
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Background: 20+ years of professional costume and set design experience infused into multi-medium storytelling.