Tell us about yourself.

I am architect in New York City.  My work in the city focuses primarily on residential projects, but it is not uncommon for us to be involved with larger institution-scale projects.  We recently completed a building for a non-profit in Africa which was donated to the University of Johannesburg.

My introduction to the quilting world happened somewhat serendipitously when I was home one weekend visiting my family in Texas.  I accompanied my sister Yvonne to a free quilting workshop at her local public library, and we had a fun time learning how quilts are put together.  The workshop inspired me to buy a sewing machine when I got back to NYC to see what I could come up with myself.  

In my creative work outside of architecture, I am always making things – paintings, sculpture, collage. Fabric-related art is not a big stretch from what I had been doing.  As an artform, quilting results in a product that has built-in utility and that’s a lot like architecture.  Quilts and buildings are more than just “pretty things”.

What inspires you?

New York City is an unending source of inspiration.  It changes every day, and every neighborhood has its own unique character.  That’s what I love about the city.  Manhattan is an island that cannibalizes itself to make space for new things, and the process exposes the older fabric of the city.  For some reason I am drawn to gritty things like peeling paint, textured sidewalks, and weathered masonry -- palimpsest surfaces that tell a story about the past.  

I am also mildly obsessed with work by abstract and minimalist artists.  I have my favorites - Agnes Martin, Donald Judd, Richard Serra, Carle Andre, and a few others.  I like work that requires a little time to fully absorb, stuff that you can keep coming back to time and time again.  I am inspired by work that has more than one layer of meaning, and I am impressed by artists that can pack a million ambiguities into a singular bold formal gesture.  

My most recent art projects involve compositions of disparate materials that, at first, may not seem to go together - fabric and glass, salvaged floorboard nails and embroidery thread, paper straws and iridium magnets.  I collect all sorts of detritus from my construction projects with grand plans to make art that matches the effort that went into making the building.  Perhaps I am strangely sentimental in that way.

My second collection, Log Tavern Road, was based on a small town in Pennsylvania where I have done quite a bit of work over the years.  My memories of the town, its rural buildings, the landscape, and friends that live there manifested as a collection that celebrates life in small town America.  I have designed a couple quilts and throw pillows using Log Tavern Road that I plan to use in photoshoots for our projects there.

Why design fabric?

In my architecture work, I do my best to keep things very simple.  Even my most extravagant projects are balanced by modesty and restraint.  In my fabric design work, I am not constrained in any way, and I am free to explore the more exuberant aspects of my creative voice.  My fabric designs are typically super saturated geometric prints.  In my mind, each collection is like a set of crayons that I will get to color with later when I make my quilts.  The goal, of course, is to create a collection that other quilters will love as well.  I get the biggest thrill when I see the amazing quilts that others have made using my fabric.  The first time someone sent me an Instagram shot of a quilt using my first collection I was over-the-moon thrilled.  The fabrics were used in such an unconventional way.  The quilt was stunning.  I loved it.

What advice do you have for the new maker?  

Break the rules and do not be afraid to make mistakes.  I am not patient enough to be very good at sewing, but sewing perfection was never important to me.  You will have plenty of opportunities to improve your skills on your next quilt.  A new maker might also consider joining their local quilt guild or taking an art class.  It’s always fun to see what others are making and to share your own work.   

Learn more about Billy Reue and his fabric collections here.