Tricia Waddell is the textile artist behind Studio Blkbird, based in Denver, Colorado at Tank Studios. Inspired by her degree in fashion design from the Fashion Institute of Technology and a variety of surface design workshops, her work combines painting and screen-printing with reactive dyes and resists to create visual textures inspired by abstract art, ceramics, and graphic design. Often incorporating mixed media and fiber elements, her current work focuses on soft sculptures that are interior self-portraits exploring mental health issues from processing raw internalized emotions to depression and negative self-talk. Inspired by the beliefs in many cultures that objects and dolls can hold protective, healing, and magical powers as talismans, she strives to create intimate works that embody quiet emotional power and empathy. Her goal is to create space for people to feel seen and heard, while also removing the stigma of discussing mental health, particularly in marginalized communities. Exhibitions include “A Spiral is Linear” at Friend of a Friend Gallery (2023), “Pink Progressions: Collaborations” at the Arvada Center Gallery (2020), and various art pop-ups in the Denver area. She’s a board member at Tilt West and an artist member of the Colorado Art Therapy Association. When she’s not in the studio, she works as an editor, writer, and storyteller creating content for artists and non-profits. www.studioblkbird.com @studioblkbird