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Michael-Birch Pierce

@michaelbirch

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Embroidery. Embellishment. Fine Art. Fashion.
Non-Binary Artist. Designer. Cocker Spaniel Enthusiast.
✨Richmond, VA ✨

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Do we make you absolutely randy? by @michaelbirch

by @michaelbirch

Almost forgot to post this brooch that I had the opportunity to embroider for thee one and only MS ROSS. Thanks so much to @wolf_trap for all the trust in my work and the killer seats to see my idols. 🤩 @dianaross 💖💖💖💖 by @michaelbirch

Our queen is gone and I’m not sure I have the words to express my anguish properly. 💖💔💖💔 Dolly Parton has meant so incredibly much to me as a queer person, artist, southerner, drag queen, and rhinestone enthusiast. Seeing her live 10 years ago was one of the greatest highlights of my life. The collective heartbreak we’re all feeling is so real. As always, I turn to my artwork in my grief. Over the last few years I have drawn and embellished dozens of Dolly Parton’s wigs. Expect to see more from me soon as I process a world without this icon and as I hope to help y’all with this transition as well. by @michaelbirch

Remembering the iconic Dolly Parton today with two archived works by SCAD alumnus Michael-Birch Pierce (@michaelbirch).
🌹
‘Crystal Dolly, 3 & 4’
Hand-drawn archival ink on Bristol with Swarovski crystals.
9” × 12”

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Commissions are open - DM us for more info.
🫶🏻
#DollyParton #DollyPartonArt #SCADAlumni #SCADArtists #SCADArt by @michaelbirch

I’ve been having a blast working with @wolf_trap on commissioned embroideries for some of their brilliant performers. This brooch was hand stitched for an absolutely singular talent @jonbatiste 🤩 I sourced these crystals, beads, and pearls all over the world and carefully sewed each one on metallic leather. I hope y’all love it and I hope he does too. Can’t wait to show you what else I’ve been dreaming up. by @michaelbirch

Once again, I got the chance to embroider something special for a hero of mine. @wolf_trap has been asking me to create one of a kind pieces for some of their visiting artists. This vintage @levis jacket that I found in the charity shop next to my Paris atelier is now embroidered with golden azaleas, dogwood, and asters which all grow in the National Park. Hand beaded and sequined rays echo both the sun and the pavilion architecture. This piece was made to celebrate @officialsarahmclachlan’s performance on July 5.

Sarah McLachlan was one of my very first favorite artists and Lilith Fair helped me discover many more of the women I’ve looked up to for almost 30 years. Her music has been the soundtrack for so much of my life. Most significantly, Mirrorball was the album I leaned on most as I mourned the loss of my first partner, Charles, in college. It is so surreal that I got the opportunity to thank her with this custom embroidery.

I’m hoping to make more of these as the season continues. Who on the Wolf Trap lineup do you want to see me embroider for next? by @michaelbirch

FIFTEEN years ago today, I embroidered portraits in the window of @quirk_gallery for the first time during a First Friday opening. It was just meant to be a cute preview performance of private portrait sessions I was scheduling for the next week, but it turned into so much more. They weren’t originally for sale but a line formed and I stitched up a quick “Embroidered Portraits $10” sign and the cash register was BUSY! It quickly became apparent that my portrait practice was more than just a studio process, but a full performance that needs to be experienced in crowds. It was less about the physical object being commissioned and more about the spectacle and the energy of witnessing its intimate creation in that chaotic space. Since then the portraits have gotten bigger, more accurate and yes, more expensive. I’ve also gotten to stitch them on three continents, at massive cultural events, and for some truly mind blowing celebrities. After all this time building a career out of these little free hand sewing machine doodles, this picture will always be one of my favorites. 😍 by @michaelbirch

I just finished a custom embroidered vintage @levis jacket for the hottest man in country music. @wolf_trap commissioned me to embellish this piece as a gift for @orvillepeck when he played there last night. Every element is free-hand embroidered using couture machine embroidery techniques and then hand stitched with sequins, beads, and rhinestones. Each flower grows in the Wolf Trap National Park and the yoke is embroidered with the architectural design of the amphitheater’s roof. My favorite part is the rhinestone lasso that is stitched to dangle off the denim.
I was told that Orville said it’s “fucking awesome!” and I have to agree. He was pretty fucking awesome too as we watched him perform from the front row. I also may have spent too long analyzing the rhinestone barbed wire on his stage costume and making plans for more work. by @michaelbirch

Met Gala 2026 with Chanel

📸 by @tylersphotos by @michaelbirch

I miss work in progress posts. This work is literally just beginning. by @michaelbirch

Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching and this is when I tend to get very busy embroidering couples portraits. Watch part of my free hand process here and let me know who I need to stitch next. #embroidery #textileart #textileartist #portrait #heatedrivalry @hudsonwilliamsofficial @connorstorrieofficial @heatedrivalrycrave by @michaelbirch