Uploaded March 2012 | Updated September 2026, 30 minutes ago
In this interview, Louisville artist Bette Levy speaks about her introduction to fiber art and the influence that her family has had on her art. She was interviewed in conjunction with the exhibition "Tools of the Trade: Fiber Art by Bette Levy," on view at the Carnegie Center for Art & History March 16 - April 28, 2012.
Bette Levy has an undergraduate degree in experimental psychology and pursued an early career in the field of market research. Deciding to merge her interest in psychology and art, she came to Louisville from San Francisco in 1974, receiving a master's degree in art therapy at the University of Louisville's Institute of Expressive Therapies. This degree led to a two-decade career in art therapy, fund development and program planning. In 1992, Levy married UL microsurgeon and anatomist, Robert Acland, and because of his interest, support and encouragement, in 1994, Levy entered the UofL graduate program in fiber arts, graduating with her second master's degree in 1998.
Levy practices what she calls "fine art embroidery." Primarily a hand stitcher, Levy's signature is the use of vividly-colored silk thread on black silk noil grounds. This approach intensifies thread colors and sets up strongly contrasting figure-ground relationships. Levy has developed a personal language of stitches that enables her to "draw" or "paint" with thread on fabric. Her subject matter is often based on her own photographic studies and is small scale and abstract.
Through her fiber art, Levy has participated in numerous exhibitions and conducted personal research into textiles through world-wide travel. She is a founding member of LAFTA (Louisville Area Fiber and Textile Artists), a past member of Fiber Forum, an arm of the Embroiderers' Guild of America, a past vice president, board member and Kentucky state representative for the Surface Design Association, and a member of numerous other textile, arts, and community organizations. She has written articles for Surface Design Journal, Arts Across Kentucky, and other professional journals. Levy is the director of the Patio Gallery at the Jewish Community Center in Louisville, KY. She is represented by PYRO Gallery, an artists' cooperative.
In this interview, Louisville artist Bette Levy speaks about her introduction to fiber art and the influence that her family has had on her art. She was interviewed in conjunction with the exhibition "Tools of the Trade: Fiber Art by Bette Levy," on view at the Carnegie Center for Art & History March 16 - April 28, 2012.
Bette Levy has an undergraduate degree in experimental psychology and pursued an early career in the field of market research. Deciding to merge her interest in psychology and art, she came to Louisville from San Francisco in 1974, receiving a master's degree in art therapy at the University of Louisville's Institute of Expressive Therapies. This degree led to a two-decade career in art therapy, fund development and program planning. In 1992, Levy married UL microsurgeon and anatomist, Robert Acland, and because of his interest, support and encouragement, in 1994, Levy entered the UofL graduate program in fiber arts, graduating with her second master's degree in 1998.
Levy practices what she calls "fine art embroidery." Primarily a hand stitcher, Levy's signature is the use of vividly-colored silk thread on black silk noil grounds. This approach intensifies thread colors and sets up strongly contrasting figure-ground relationships. Levy has developed a personal language of stitches that enables her to "draw" or "paint" with thread on fabric. Her subject matter is often based on her own photographic studies and is small scale and abstract.
Through her fiber art, Levy has participated in numerous exhibitions and conducted personal research into textiles through world-wide travel. She is a founding member of LAFTA (Louisville Area Fiber and Textile Artists), a past member of Fiber Forum, an arm of the Embroiderers' Guild of America, a past vice president, board member and Kentucky state representative for the Surface Design Association, and a member of numerous other textile, arts, and community organizations. She has written articles for Surface Design Journal, Arts Across Kentucky, and other professional journals. Levy is the director of the Patio Gallery at the Jewish Community Center in Louisville, KY. She is represented by PYRO Gallery, an artists' cooperative.
