“Growing up in the mountains of southeastern Idaho and the Black Hills of South Dakota, I was greatly influenced by my rural surroundings. My parents chose to live a simplified “close to the earth” lifestyle, so I was taught to reuse, use up, and make do. Because I took a meandering road to college, I had the chance to pursue many career paths and hobbies such as working as a pastry chef in a French bakery, doing research and development for a granola company, and raising chickens in a barn outside my home.

In 2015 I received my BFA in the Fiber Department of the Kansas City Art Institute. While much of my work uses traditional textile processes such as quilting, weaving, and surface design, I also use collage, installation, and performance to explore domestic themes. I worked as the Fiber Technician and taught studio electives at the Kansas City Art Institute until I moved to western Kentucky where I served as the Fiber Artist in Residence at the Paducah School of Art & Design and Executive Director of the Yeiser Art Center. Over the past few years I have also worked within the UNESCO Creative Cities network, exhibiting my own artwork and supporting other artists by programming exhibitions, performances, and travel in South Korea, Mexico, Italy, Spain, and Kentucky.

An important part of my studio practice is sharing art techniques and traditions through education. I have taught extensively in high schools, colleges, and community settings both nationally and internationally.

I currently serve as the Executive Director of the Quilts of Valor Foundation which is a national non-profit organization.”
Headshot of Lexie Millikan wearing a colorful bandana, standing in front of a black, white, and gray pieced quilt.

ARTIST STATEMENT:

As a textile artist, Lexie Millikan’s work is deeply rooted in the ancient traditions of craft, embracing techniques that have been passed down through generations. Each piece she creates is a reflection of the community that surrounds her, intertwined with the stories, emotions, and experiences of the people she meets and places she visits.

Lexie draws inspiration from the narratives that linger in the textures and colors of found materials, transforming them into something new and often unexpected. These materials tell their tales, echoing the lives they've lived and the bodies that have shaped them. By integrating these elements into her work, she aims to celebrate the material history while giving it a fresh context within the language of contemporary art.

Through techniques such as weaving, quilting, and dyeing, Lexie connects past and present, merging traditional practices with modern sensibilities. This process not only reinforces a sense of heritage but also invites dialogue about identity, memory, and belonging. Each stitch is a gesture of care, an acknowledgment of the relationships that have influenced her journey as both an artist and a member of the global community.

Her textiles are more than decorative objects; they are vessels for connection, forming a bridge between individuals and collective experiences. Through Lexie’s work, viewers can feel the warmth and resilience of the people honored in each piece, sparking a sense of recognition and reflection. From long-term collaborative installations, performative mending workshops, and traditional natural dye practices, Lexie’s art is dedicated to the spirit of collaboration and the shared humanity of makers and artisans around the world.