Susan Callahan combines her experiences and passion for food while working in a commercial kitchen, with her love of working with textiles to create her art.
Fiber art and food. How do the two influence each other in your daily creativity?
I spent 35 years in a commercial kitchen. Cooking and the life and culture in the kitchen is my passion. How could it not influence each other?
I thrive on the community of the kitchen. The tools and the work stations even have a life and purpose. Of course, FOOD, the beauty, the ability to transform an ingredient to something completely different, is definitely the same as art quilting.
How long have you been a fiber artist? How did you get started?
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About 25 years ago, I went to a fabric store with my sister. We grew up sewing, and she wanted to buy fabric for a sweatshirt. I wandered over to the quilt section and thought, well, why not try this!
I had been buying quilts at auction for years, why not try making one? About two months in, I made my teenage son move to the basement, and I moved my sewing world into his room.
I was never trained in the traditional methods, so I broke every “rule”. I quickly found the art quilt world, found my people, and have been in the art quilt world ever since.
Where do you find inspiration for your designs?
I make choices, I make series to tell the complete story. I take photos and use them to turn into art pieces. I did a 20-piece series on life in a kitchen — Kitchen Stories. It was my love letter to everyone who cooks for a living. While I am no longer in a commercial kitchen, the act of feeding still engages me. The fork, knife and spoon are frequent icons of my work
What different creative media do you use in your work?
I am a surface designer. I make much of my fabric and have used old uniforms in my work. The chefs’ jacket has a real recognizable style and makes for fun imagery. In the past four years, I have been using more and more repurposed fabrics in my work. Finding tablecloths as starting points, I am making quilts that signify the table and the culture of dining.
If we asked a good friend of yours to describe your work, what would they say?
Bold, saturated colors, fun stories
Do you plan your work out ahead of time, or do you just dive in with your materials and start playing?
Not really, I know where I want to go, but oftentimes the work takes a direction of its own and I follow it.
Are you a “finisher”? How many UFOs do you think you have?
I am a finisher, I have very few UFOs maybe one or two.
Describe your creative space.
We recently moved to the coast of Delaware. When looking at homes, I had a few desires. One was a great workspace. I have a two-car garage that I refitted to be a studio. It has a 9-foot design wall, a 14-foot long arm, and two other workspaces. My signature in the studio are chandeliers. I have three over-the-top chandeliers in the space. It is bright and comfortable.
Scraps. Saver? Or be done with them?
I use scraps for the upcycled denim jackets and hoodies I over-dye and paint. I collect scraps at least once a year and donate to a local nonprofit, or an art teacher
How often do you start a new project? Do you work actively on more than one project at a time?
I have a list of things I want to make. I am part of an international artist group, and we have set themes. I belong to a couple of other artists’ communities, and we plan small challenges for each other.
I mostly work on one project at a time.
Can you tell us about the inspiration and process of one of your works? How does a new work come about?
The series Kitchen Stories came from a photograph of a chef, through the kitchen window, surrounded by plates. It made me think about all the people who make our food who we know nothing about As a culture, we are engaged with many celebrity chef’s but thousands of women and men make food every day, and they are never celebrated So, I started telling the story of life in a kitchen. The result was over 20 large quilts, a dozen smaller ones, and three solo shows of that work
I am, happily obsessed with life around food and cooking
Which part of the design process is your favorite? Which part is a challenge for you?
I love auditioning fabric, I love creating my own fabric, but the real ZEN is quilting I love free motion quilting It is the final part of telling the story.
How has your work evolved over the years? Is there a common thread (pun intended!) across the years?
With time, I have become more confident with my own style. I love to play with new techniques or methods, but I ultimately am me.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?
I have been both a paid mentor and now the SAQA Mentor Program coordinator. I give a lot of advice and hear a lot too.
The best piece I have learned is “If you don’t like it, it’s not done”. The best piece I have ever given is “NEVER denigrate yourself. Always talk positively about yourself, your work, and your process”.
Do you critique your own work? What is your process?
I do, I take photos and change them to black and white to look for areas that might be overwhelming to the total composition.
I trust my own process, but I also have a small group of wonderful artists that I can ask for input when I am struggling with something.
Where can people see your work?
Instagram, local shows, I do studio tours. While I had a website, I prefer Instagram as it shows what I am doing and where I will be. I am in the mid-Atlantic, and I apply to many exhibitors in my region. I do not really enter quilt shows. My work does not fit.
Follow Susan on Instagram.
Interview posted May 2025
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