About Me — Christy Strickler

I’m a mixed media textile artist living and working in Tirana, Albania. I am originally from the United States and have lived and worked abroad for over 20 years. My experiences across cultures inform my approach to mixed media art, textiles, and storytelling, shaping both my studio practice and the way I share creative ideas with others.

My art lives somewhere between the subconscious and the physical world. I explore how social and cultural norms shape our lives, mental health, and the experiences of the people I care about. My work spans textile, painting, and mixed media, blending personal narrative with experimental techniques. I share my process through YouTube, blog posts, and art collaborations, creating a bridge between my studio practice and others who are curious about creative exploration.

When I am not making art, I am happiest at home, either in the studio or wandering through the world of video games.

A little background:

I have also worked in the craft and scrapbook industry. You can see some of that work at  MyScrapbookEvolution.com or view my full resume here.

I began experimenting with art as a child. By the time I was a teenager, I was exploring painting, textile art, and jewelry making as hobbies. After high school, I pursued a degree in Biology and Environmental Science. I was as mesmerized by the natural world as I was by the arts, and a science career seemed more practical than becoming a full-time artist. Art became more of a hobby and at times was quite neglected.

After becoming a mother, I wanted to return to being creative. I chose memory keeping because documenting my family’s story felt purposeful. Through memory keeping, I began to study principles of design and composition, and this eventually led me back to painting and textile arts.

CES Art Evolution Lab was founded in November 2022, when I decided to take my work from the art journal to the canvas.

Though the worlds of fine art and crafts are often treated separately, I have chosen to acknowledge both together. Without scrapbooking, I would not have explored design or composition. I have learned skills and used non-traditional tools in my art journaling practice that I now bring into my mixed media art.

About CES Art Evolution Lab

CES Art Evolution Lab is my creative studio based in Tirana, Albania, where I explore everything from textiles and thread work to painting, sculpture, and mixed media. I see it as a space where materials and stories collide, where experimenting is part of the process, and where I share my creative journey with anyone who is curious.

The Lab is focused on artistic growth, storytelling through art, and developing collaborative projects. Right now, most of that sharing happens online, through YouTube videos, blog posts, and a few art collaborations, but the Lab is always evolving. In the future, I plan to add zines, digital art kits, and more collaborative projects, making it a space that continues to grow with curiosity and creativity.

Mission & Goals

• Collaboration: Open to working with other artists and makers to share skills, learn new approaches, and explore ideas together.

• Inspiration & Encouragement: Sharing insights, process videos, and creative experiments to help others start or grow their own creative practice.

• Art Practice Development: Offering tips, techniques, and exercises to encourage experimentation, focus, and creative problem-solving.

Interested in collaborating or exploring the Lab’s work? Check out YouTube or Substack, or send me a note.

Exhibitions

• Time-  November 21- December 30, 2024 
• Series Under the Same Sky – April 11,2025

Residencies

• Remix, September 2024 – December 2024

• The Slow Color Project, February 2025 – April 2025

• Deconstruction of the Self, September 2025- Ongoing

Memberships & Professional Service

Surface Design Association (SDA)  January 1, 2024 to present
• Member, SDA Membership Committee (2025–present)
• SDA Group Coordinator, International Region, representing members outside the U.S. and BC/Yukon, Canada  (2025–present)

The Wild Thread Collective, a symbolic and curatorial artistic residency dedicated to women  (April 1, 2026, to present). Member of a 28-artist international collective (Brazil-based) representing 8+ countries across visual and textile arts.

Community Engagement

• Facilitator, Remix: The Transformation of One Artwork Into Another, Surface Design Association (Three-part series: Oct 7, Nov 4, Dec 2, 2024).
• Facilitator and Founder, Remix Coffee Social Artist Discussion group, Independent ( January 2025- present)

• Facilitator & Founder Artist Residency at Home: An Intersection of Everyday Life and Artistic Practice, Surface Design Association (Three-part series: Feb 18, Mar 18, Apr 15, 2025), ongoing independent talks (February 2025–Present).A self-initiated educational program and monthly workshop series exploring the integration of studio practice with everyday life. Originally launched with the Surface Design Association and now continuing as an independent global community.

• Co-Facilitator, Deconstruction: A Home Artist Residency, Surface Design Association, with Ana Tieche and Christy Strickler (Three-part series: Sept 22, Oct 20, Nov 17, 2025).
• Facilitator, Artist Discussion Group with the Surface Design Association (  March 19, April 16, May 21, 2026)
• Co-Facilitator, Democracy in Stitches, Surface Design Association, with Christy Strickler and Adrianna Hinds  ( Four Part Series: March 18, April 1, April 15, April 29, 2025)