Bio & Resume
Krishma Patel explores the visual impact of Quilted Texture in her work. She is inspired by the bold use of colors found in Folk Arts from around the world as well as the simple geometric shapes found in Modern Art.
Krishma was born in South India, a region famous for it's exquisite textiles. Her mother, an avid dress maker, would hand Krishma scraps of fabrics and silk yarns to play with. By the age of 9 she was able to run a treadle sewing machine on her own. Throughout, her school and college years, she worked on and gathered knowledge of the various local textiles. She excelled in Free Motion Embroidery on the treadle sewing machine. She had not encountered Quilting until much later in life.
By formal education, Krishma has a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting & Finance. While she progressed in the careers of Accounting & Finance, she continued to nurture her love for textiles and yarns. A job move for Krishma's husband brought them both to USA. Shopping for house wares in the spring of 2001 she was asked to peek into a room that had a traveling exhibit of award winning quilts on display. She was transfixed by the beauty of these quilted works of Art and there was no looking back.
Today, as a self taught Professional Quilt Artist, Krishma Patel quilts on State of the Art Quilting Machines as well as on the Treadle Sewing Machines. She is Commissioned by people to make quilts from design to completion to commemorate events, milestones & to enhance interior spaces. She has won many awards for her quilts as well as for her client's quilts. She actively seeks, takes a lead & participates in Community Quilt projects as well as participate in making Social Message Quilts.
Solo Exhibitions
2018 - "Simple Shapes, Bold Color & Texture" a Collection of Modern Quilts by Krishma Patel at The Plainsboro Public Library, NJ2016 - "Cloth & Culture Weekend", Blazing Star Arts Center, Central Jersey Arts Council, Carteret, NJ
Group Exhibitions
2022 -Tickled Pink with Penny Merkel at Stars of the Valley - Warwick Valley Quilt Guild, Warkwick, NY (Juried, Local)
2020 - I Spy Quilt at Pacific International Quilt Festival, Virtual Quilt Show. (Juried, International)
2020 - Square Dance at Mid Atlantic Quilt Festival, Hampton, Virginia. (Juried, National)
2020 - ELECTRIC at QuiltCon, Austin, Texas. (Juried, International)
2020 - JUST STOP in "Threads of Truth: Social Impact & Fiber Arts" at Zhou B Art Center, Chicago, IL (Juried International) Juror/Curator: Sergio Gomez
2020 - ELECTRIC at Road to California Quilters Conference & Showcase, Ontario, CA (Juried International)
2019 - Tickled Pink with Penny Merkel at Quilt Odyssey, Lancaster, PA (Juried Regional)
2019 - ELECTRIC, Quiltfest Lancaster, Lancaster, PA (Juried Regional)
2019 - DNA with Yolanda Fundora at Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival, Hampton, Virginia. (Juried Regional)
2018 - Tickled Pink with Penny Merkel at Pennsylvania Quilt Extravaganza, Oaks, PA (Juried Regional)
2018 - Worldly with Carol Esch at Machine Quilters Exposition, Springfield, IL (Juried Internatonal)
2018 - "Earth Speaks", JUST STOP at Barron Arts Center, Woodbridge NJ (Juried Regional)
2018 - Austin Blue Bird with Carol Mann at Quilt & Sewing Fest of New Jersey, Somerset, NJ (Juried Regional)
2018 - 8 Collaborative Quilts - Quilt & Sewing Fest of New Jersey, Somerset, NJ (Juried Regional)
2018 - Heartfull of Roses, Drums of Fishermen, Modern Pineapple quilts at Present Day Club, Princeton, NJ
2017 - Inspired by Chihuly with Carol Esch, Americian Quilters Society Quilt Show, Paducah, KC (Juried International)
2017 - Heartfull of Roses at Artwalk at Doylestown Hospital, Doylestown, PA
2017 - 4 Collaborative Quilts - Quiltcon, Savannah, GA (Juried International)
2017 - Juxtapose at The Quilt & Sewing Festival of NJ, Somerset, NJ (Juried Regional)
2017 - Fly Out Of The Box The Terrain is Wide open at Quilt & Sewing Fest of NJ, Somerset, NJ (Juried Regional)
2016 - 2 Collaborative Quilts, Warwick Valley Quilters Guild, Warwick, NY (Juried Regional)
2016 - Lawn Diamonds with Sarah Schraw, Quilt Market, Salt Lake City, Utah (Juried Regional)
2016 - The Modern Quilt Guild at The Texas Quilt Museum, Juxtapose at The Texas Quilt Museum, LaGrange, TX (Juried International) Juror/Curator: Dr. Sandra Sider
2016 - JUST STOP at Quilt Festival of NJ, Somerset, NJ (Juried Regional)
2016 - The Quilts of North Jersey Modern Quilt Guild, Quilt Festival of NJ, Somerset, NJ
2016 - My Logo Quilt at The Mini Quilts of The Central Jersey Modern Quilt Guild, Hillsborough Public Library, Hillsborough, NJ. Feb 2016
2015 - Fly Out Of The Box The Terrain is Wide open at Keystone Quilters Guild Quilt Show, Quakertown, PA
2015 - Collaborative Quilt with Carol Esch, Keystone Quilters Guild Quilt Show, Quakertown, PA
2015 - The Quilts of Central Jersey Modern Quilt Guild, Loosen Up Bookkeeper & Juxtapose at Pennsylvania National Quilts Extravaganza, Oaks, Pennsylvania
2015 - Modern Quilts of North Jersey Quilt Guild, Loosen Up Bookkeeper & Juxtapose at Garden State Quilters Quilt Show, Morristown, NJ
2015 - Turbulence with Betsy Vinegrad, Garden State Quilters Quilt Show, Morristown, NJ
2015 -, Modern Quilts of the Central Jersey Modern Quilt Guild, Loosen Up Bookkeeper & Juxtapose at Quilt Festival of NJ, Somerset, NJ
2014 -, Modern Quilts of the Central Jersey Modern Quilt Guild, Set in Stone & Broken Logs at Quilt Festival of NJ, Somerset, NJ
News, Press & Publications
2024 - Magazine Feature - Krishma Patel, Finding Focus - in Quiltfolk Issue 29 - New Jersey
2021 - Magazine Publication - Look Up Log Cabins - in issue# 24 of Simply Moderne Magazine, Published by Quiltmania Publications, France.
2020 - New Jersey State Council on the Art's, Passing it On Newsletter - Artist on the Frontline, Portrait of a Quilter Amid COVID-19
2019 - Magazine Publication - Fly Out of the Box in Issue #19 of Simply Moderne Magazine, Published by Quiltmania Publications, France
2019 - Magazine Publication - Square Dance in Issue #18 of Simply Moderne Magazine, Published by Quiltmania Publications, France
2018 - Global Newsletter - Modern Quilt Guild - " Member Spotlight" - click here & select - I am not a Member
2018 - Press - Print Newspaper & Online News Article - Home News Tribune, NJ
2018 - Press - Online News Article - MONROEnow, NJ
2018 - Press - Online News Article - American Towns, NJ
2018 - Book Publication, Modern Quilts of the New Century, page189, Lawn Diamonds with Sarah Schraw
2017 - Magazine Publication, Curated Quilts - Issue 01 page 35, Mend - with Melanie Tuazon
Awards & Documentation
2022 - Best Longarm Quilting - Tickled Pink with Penny Merkel at Stars of the Valley - Warwick Valley Quilt Guild, Warwick, NY (Juried, Local)
2020 - The Monroe Township Cultural Arts Commission - Virtual Juried Art Exhibit.
2020 - Best Use of Color Square Dance at Mid Atlantic Quilt Festival, Hampton, Virginia. (Juried, National)
2019 - Best Use of Color - Modern Quilt Category, Electric at Quiltfest Lancaster, Lancaster, PA
2019 - First Place - Group Quilt Category - Tickled Pink with Penny Merkel at Quilt Odyssey, Lancaster, PA
2018 - First Place - Best Longarm Quilting Track Mounted, Tickled Pink with Penny Merkel at Pennsylvania Quilt Extravaganza, Oaks, PA
2018 - Artist of the Year- June 2018, Mayoral Commendation - Borough of Carteret, NJ
2018 - First Place - Best Machine Quilting - Quilt & Sewing Fest of New Jersey, Somerset, NJ
2017 - Artist of the Month - June 2017, Mayoral Commendation - Borough of Carteret, NJ
2017 - First Place - Best Traditional Quilt, Fly Out Of The Box The Terrain is Wide open at Quilt & Sewing Fest of NJ, Somerset, NJ
2016 - Honorable Mention for 2 Collaborative Quilts, Warwick Valley Quilters Guild, Warwick, NY
2016 - Documentation, of social commentary quilt JUST STOP, Common Heritage, Uncommon Quilts, NJ Digital Highway & Library of Congress by the Montclair History Center, NJ
2016 - First Place - Cotton & Steel Nationwide Lawn Quilt Challenge Contest - Lawn Diamonds with Sarah Schraw, Quilt Market, Salt Lake City, UT
2015 - Best Machine Quilting - Fly Out Of The Box The Terrain is Wide open at Keystone Quilters Guild Quilt Show, Quakertown, PA
2015 - Second Place - Best Modern Quilt - Fly Out Of The Box The Terrain is Wide open at Keystone Quilters Guild Quilt Show, Quakertown, PA
2015 - Second Place - Team, Small Category - Collaborative Quilt with Carol Esch, Keystone Quilters Guild Quilt Show, Quakertown, PA
2015 - Honorable Mention - Pieced Quilt, Professionally Quilted - Turbulence with Betsy Vinegrad, Garden State Quilters Quilt Show, Morristown, NJ
2015 - First Place - Fabric Challenge & Competition, Sand Dunes of Tattori, Cascade Fabric for Windham Fabrics, NJ
Commissions & Permanent Collections
2020 - YYY Improv Quilt for Cherrywood Fabrics, Baxter, MN (Quilt Pattern & Fabric Kit available for sale)
2018 - I Spy Quilt, Community Teen Project for the Middlesex County Family Court, New Brunswick, NJ
2017 - Community Quilt Project - Carteret CommUnity Quilt for The Blazing Star Cultural Arts Center, Township of Carteret, NJ
2016 - Community Teen Project - Summer Splash for Pathways Carteret High School, NJ
Other
2023 - Lecture Presentation - The making of the I Spy Quilt of Middlesex County Family Court - Middlesex Township Senior Center, Middlesex, NJ
2022 - Lecture Presentation - The making of the I Spy Quilt of Middlesex County Family Court - Whispering Knoll Assisted Living, Edison, NJ
2022 - Lecture Presentation - The making of the I Spy Quilt of Middlesex County Family Court - Sourth Brunswick Senior Center, South Brunswick, NJ
2022 - Lecture Presentation - The making of the I Spy Quilt of Middlesex County Family Court - Highland Park Senior Center, Highland Park, NJ2020 - Studio Tour & making of I Spy Quilt of Middlesex County Family Court - An Online Presentation
2019 - Oral History Recorded by Sally Van de Water, Middlesex County, NJ
2019 - Trunk show for The Jersey Shore Modern Quilt Guild, NJ
Upcoming
2023 - Untitled & Work In Progress Quilt for The New Jersey Institute of Disabilities, Piscataway, NJ
2023 - Untitled & Work In Progress Quilt for The New Jersey Institute of Disabilities, Port Reading, NJ
