Ricki Gafter is a self-taught fiber artist whose work transforms silk into sculptural expressions of color, movement, and imagination. Drawn to textiles from an early age—especially the luminous and tactile qualities of silk—she has developed a distinctive artistic voice rooted in exploration, intuition, and materiality.
Each of her one-of-a-kind creations begins with hand-dyed silk noille, a richly textured fabric that brings depth, softness, and an organic quality to every piece. Ricki paints her silks using both gutta and serti techniques, and dyes them through traditional resist methods including Shibori and Katazome. These layered processes create complex surfaces where color, pattern, and texture interact in unexpected and expressive ways.
Using a coiling technique inspired by traditional methods developed by Native American artisans, Ricki builds her sculptures through a process of wrapping, stitching, and shaping the silk into dimensional forms. This approach allows the work to grow intuitively, one coil at a time, resulting in pieces that feel both structured and fluid.
Inspired by nature, emotion, and a sense of whimsy, Ricki’s sculptures blur the line between textile and form. No two pieces are ever alike—each sculpture tells its own quiet story through color, texture, and movement.
Her work invites viewers to pause, look closer, and experience the unexpected beauty of fiber as fine art.
The Process
Every sculpture begins with silk noille that Ricki dyes and paints by hand. Using gutta and serti resist techniques, along with Shibori and Katazome dyeing methods, she creates custom palettes that range from soft, natural tones to vibrant, expressive hues.
Ricki then employs a coiling technique rooted in Native American basketry traditions—carefully wrapping and stitching the silk into evolving forms. This slow, tactile process allows each piece to develop organically, responding to the material as it takes shape.
The result is a sculptural form that highlights both the strength and delicacy of silk, while honoring a time-tested method of construction.
The Work
Ricki’s silk sculptures are whimsical, textural, and deeply individual. They can stand alone as striking visual statements or complement a space with subtle elegance and movement.
At their core, these pieces celebrate
- The joy of creative exploration
- The beauty of imperfection
- The richness of natural materials
- The dialogue between tradition and contemporary expression