Meet RAD Artist: Maggie Thompson

The Rumpl Artist Division (R.A.D.) is a collaborative program that showcases the work of accomplished and upcoming artists who use diverse mediums to inspire creativity in impassioned communities around the world.  LEARN MORE >

Where are you from and how would you describe the type of art that you create?

I was born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I am a mixed-media textile artist and knitwear designer.

Are there any themes you incorporate into your art?

I incorporate lots of different things, from subtle cultural references to my Native heritage, to works about loss and grief in relationships, skateboarding culture, and language and traditional patterns.

• What was your inspiration behind the color palette and design of your Rumpl Blanket?

I was inspired by lazy stitch beadwork, as well as deriving it from a weaving I did when I was in college.

What’s your biggest motivation for creating?

Education, community, and self-expression. Also, emotional processing.

Tell us about your passions and how they transfer to your pieces.

• I enjoy technical work, and I feel like products make art accessible and functional. I like learning about my culture, and so when I learn something I like to teach others.
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Is there a specific environment or material that is integral to your work?

• For my knitwear, I primarily use wool, and for the Fine Art, I’m always exploring new formats and materials.

What’s one goal you have for yourself this year?

I would like to get the industrial knitting machine up-and-running, and work with other artists to collaborate, further challenging ideas of what Native art can be.

Best piece of advice you’ve been given?
To be gentle and forgiving of myself in terms of making work, or timelines. Also, that I don’t always need to make art for an audience.

Follow Maggie Thompson at @makwa_studio>
Learn more about the Maggie Thompson here>

SHOP THE MAGGIE THOMPSON COLLAB