Michael-Birch Pierce

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. 😍