My work is a personal and playful exploration, stretching and challenging quilt forms and structures while considering the activist values that shaped historic quilt-making traditions. I build my textile-based works by stitching together long strips of fabric and hundreds of triangles, using repetition, precision, and improvisation as guiding forces. Through this process, I transform traditional craft techniques into layered, abstract compositions that merge geometry with personal symbolism. Alongside my quilts, I create intimate works on paper - watercolors and pastels that echo my textile works' pattern and color sensibilities.
I incorporate hand-dyed fabrics, repurposed clothing, and textiles collected from friends and thrift shops to create rich surfaces full of personal and cultural resonance. These materials speak to the urgency of textile waste and connect my work to the material culture of my Miami surroundings. Drawing from the city’s vibrant landscape, I blend organic geometry with bold, tropical color palettes to create visual rhythm and a sense of transformation. Unconventional materials like repurposed neoprene, sequins, and faux leather inject an unexpected twist—part homage to Miami’s pop culture pulse, part playful experimentation with texture and shine.
My artistic journey is deeply rooted in a reverence for American folk art quilts and an admiration for geometric abstraction in the mid-to-late twentieth century. I draw inspiration from visionaries such as the Gee's Bend quilters, Anni Albers, Rosie Lee Tompkins, and Gego, whose work bridges the gap between craft and abstraction. Their influence is a rich tapestry that informs my approach to pattern, color, and structure, guiding me to create quilts infused with personal symbolism and narratives, inviting connection and contemplation.
Artist Statement
Regina Durante Jestrow (b. 1978) is an Italian-American textile artist living and working in Miami, Florida, who grew up in Queens, NY. Her artistic journey began in her formative years, as she learned sewing and crocheting from her mother, igniting a passion that would become a lifelong force. This connection to textiles is the bedrock of her artistic practice, stretching and challenging quilt forms and structures while considering the activist values that shaped historic quilt-making traditions. Relocating to Miami allowed Jestrow to delve into quilting, becoming a source of solace and creative expression. In her Miami home studio, the sewing machine, a symbol of comfort and creativity, continues taking center stage.
Jestrow’s work challenges notions of traditional quilt making and textile arts. Her artistic exploration is deeply rooted in women's rights and history, combined with a deep appreciation for the patterns and stories drawn from the enduring traditions of American quilt-making. Her art quilts feature a fusion of new and second-hand fabrics, including hand-dyed and manipulated textiles, through various techniques, including natural and reactive dyes, inks, and acrylics. The resulting pieces reflect the colors and patterns that evoke Miami's dynamic cultural diversity and landscape. Her affinity for quilts pushes the boundaries of the medium, resulting in a diverse body of work that includes painting, drawings, sculptural installations, textile wall hangings, and functional objects.
Selected solo projects include “Lots of Little Pieces (aka My Favorite Color is Glitter)” at Miami-Dade College Kendall Gallery, Miami, FL (2025) “Non-Linear Path” at Liaigre, Miami, FL (2024), and “Americana Quilts: Reinterpretation of Tradition” at Laundromat Art Space, Miami, FL (2022). Selected group exhibitions include “A Space Between Worlds” at Wassaic Projects, Wassaic, NY (2024) "Hand Over Hand: Textiles Today” at Mindy Solomon Gallery, Miami, FL (2023), and “In the Company of Women: At Large” at LnS Gallery, Miami, FL (2022). Public and private Collections include the Beth Rudin DeWoody Collection, the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, and the Miami International Airport, MIA Galleries. Public art commissions include The Shelborne by Proper Hotels. Jestrow has been awarded artist residencies at The Sam and Adele Golden Foundation (2024), The Jentel Foundation (2022), and National Park Service Artist in Residence in the Everglades (AIRIE) (2014). Awarded grants include the South Florida Cultural Consortium (SFCC, 2023), Miami Individual Artists (MIA) Grant (2022 - 2025), The Ellies, Miami’s Visual Arts Awards, Oolite Arts (2021), and the Artist Access Grant, Miami-Dade County and FUNdarte (2021 - 2024).