Ann Morton works primarily in fiber art, often inspired by social issues and politics. She is drawn to the rich history of community and story-telling within the making of textiles which traditionally entailed women gathering together to work: knitting circles, quilting bees and the more contemporary stitch & bitch sessions. Her work includes large-scale projects that engage the public and diverse communities of makers (such as her 2013 Ground Cover and 2017 ReTHANKS) as well as handcraft techniques that she practices alone in her studio.
Given the central place of fabric in our lives, Morton’s textile medium draws viewers in to consider deeper concerns and think about who is making the work, why they are making it and what stories it tells. As Morton explained: “The work I do reflects attention to my own handwork, but my studio practice is also infused with a social practice that orchestrates handwork of disadvantaged individuals, or of participating community members through public interventions that seek to socially engage the hands of many to create a larger whole.”
After a professional career as a graphic and environmental graphic designer, Morton earned her MFA in 2012 from Arizona State University’s Herberger Institute – School of Art. Her work has been shown in Arizona, Los Angeles, Detroit, Houston, Australia, Israel, and Brazil.
