HERD, by Paula Kovarik

October 31, 2026, to January 3, 2027

My Art

My art arises from my everyday world. I look for the odd and edgy, those things that overwhelm me with their beauty or worry me with their gravity. Through it all, I remain sensitive to surprises, allowing the process to tell me more than I think I know.


My Process

I work in fabric and thread as a tactile response to my thoughts. The slow and considered act of stitching animates my musings. I like the contrast—a strong line against a giving surface. Through collage, stitch and texture the works come to life.

 

This Collection

Odd and edgy. Cut up and restitched. Each piece moves through a transformative process to become something new. Moving from two-dimensional surfaces to three-dimensional forms, I stitched and created a Herd. Brutes with stripes. Young pups with curly parts and color. Elegant beasts with dainty legs and big fat butts. All wandering headless without direction.

 

These works capture some of my reactions to politicians, the body politic, and the fraying relationships that color our country today.

About the artist

Paula Kovarik is a full-time artist and fiber art teacher based in Memphis, TN. She holds a degree in design and art history from Southern Illinois University and spent over 30 years as a professional designer before transitioning to a full-time art practice. 


Kovarik creates intricate, story-rich fiber artworks that fuse intuitive stitching with conceptual depth. Her award-winning work has been recognized by Quilt National, Quilts=Art=Quilts, World of Threads, and FiberArt Now—Excellence in Fibers. She has been profiled in Smithsonian American Craft and FiberArt Now magazines. Kovarik’s quilts are featured in major publications, including Art Quilts Unfolding – 50 Years of Innovation and Art Quilts International: Abstract & Geometric. 


Her work is part of several permanent collections, including the International Quilt Museum in Lincoln, NE, the Memphis International Airport, and various private collections.