Ellen Schiffman

Ellen Schiffman is a multimedia artist with a fascination for texture, pattern and sculptural forms. Fiber and fiber art techniques have often been at the core of what she creates. In addition to the richness, complexity and beauty she finds she can achieve with fiber, she is drawn to the historical and multi-cultural richness of fiber making traditions. Beyond fiber, Ellen Schiffman is an avid explorer of materials. Although she frequently uses traditional art materials such as paint, ink and clay in her artwork, she also turns to unexpected, often commonplace materials. These materials include cotton twill tape, items from nature, found objects, Q Tips and more. Her inspiration is drawn from across cultures and time, with imagery inspired both by the randomness of nature and the intentionality and splendor of human creations. Moments of vulnerability, transition and serendipity, as well as the beauty of imperfection, all interest her. While the work embodies fragility, it also speaks of the possibility of change, growth and resilience.

Colby College, Maine - BA
Fordham University NYC - Masters Degree

Ellen Schiffman is primarily a self taught artist. She has honed her skills and her knowledge at well regarded art programs such as those at Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts and Peters Valley School of Crafts in the US, as well as West Dean College in Great Britain. She has been taught and mentored by some of the top Textile/Fiber artist working in the field including Lissa Hunter, Matthew Harris, Marjolean Dalinga, Mo Kelman, Lanny Bergner, Jan Beaney/Jean Littlejohn and more. During the pandemic lockdown she taught herself how to make artist books with the help of many excellent videos online. Over the course of the year she made close to 200 unique books.

Ellen Schiffman has exhibited her work nationwide, including solo shows at the Fuller Craft Museum in MA and the Mercy Gallery in CT. Invitational and juried group shows include those at Fiberart International in Pittsburgh, the Mattatuck Museum in CT, Slater Memorial Museum in CT, Wayne Art Center in PA, the Silvermine Gallery in CT, The Flinn Gallery in CT, the Textile Art Center in Minneapolis, Peters Valley Art Center in NJ, BWAC Gallery in NYC and more. Her work has been featured in numerous periodicals and art books including Dimensional Cloth by Andrea Stanton and Fiber Art Now magazine. She has received multiple prestigious awards, most recently the top prize in sculpture at the Providence Art Club International Juried exhibit.