2007 Governors Arts Awards

Individual Arts Patron Award
To be created by Suzanne Pretty

Suzanne Pretty of Farmington received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Painting and Illustration. It wasn’t until after graduation that Pretty began her exploratory work in fiber and quilted pieces that she calls “stuffed paintings”. Many of these works have been exhibited throughout the Boston Area and northern New England. Her experiments have evolved over the years with non-traditional fibers and other unexpected elements. She creates her fabric, in most cases, one thread at a time.

Pretty was born in Malden, Massachusetts and has been a member of the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen for close to 30 years. She also works as a production weaver creating everything from rugs and placemats to scarves and shawls. In 1987 her focus shifted to tapestry work..

Pretty has exhibited nationally in many private collections and her work has been included in a number of publications. She was awarded two Fellowships from the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts. Other awards include a recent award at the 2006 Craft National held at the Lancaster Museum of Art in Pennsylvania.

Pretty remains active in the New England tapestry craft community and is a founding member of the Tapestry Weavers in New England and is a former member of the Board of Directors of the American Tapestry Alliance. She owns and runs Emporium Framing and Gallery in South Berwick, Maine.