To create her sculptural and flat works, Alabama textile and fiber artist Kami Watson specializes in wet felting – a centuries-old process that is both labor and time intensive.
In Watson’s hands, the medium becomes a rich blend of personal narrative, deep-rooted craft and storytelling.
Artist: Born in Nacogdoches, TX, Watson grew up in a military family. She lived in Germany and various states on the East Coast before she graduated from high school in Virginia. She earned her BA in sociology at Roanoke College in 1994.
After college, Watson embraced her adventurist spirit, living and working in a variety of positions, including the AmeriCorps VISTA in Oklahoma, the Peace Corps in Lesotho and American Red Cross in the Middle East.
During one of her deployments to the Middle East, Watson met her husband. In 2013, they settled in Huntsville, AL.
Studio: Kami Watson Studio is based in Huntsville. Besides working in her garage, backyard and on her kitchen island, Watson has maintained a studio on and off at Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment, Huntsville, since 2014.
In the beginning: As a second-generation fiber artist, Watson was first introduced to the medium of wet felting by her mother. After moving to Huntsville, Watson began to refine her skills, eventually taking workshops with internationally renowned wet felting artists both in the states and abroad.
Some of the things Watson learned, include:
- Wool breeds (as each produce distinctly different textures, densities, and strengths of felt).
- The layering of fibers for color blending.
- The incorporation of other fibers and textiles for design and texture.
Art & materials:
Flat and sculptural works made with primarily wool fiber, but often with other fibers and textiles, to create both wearable and visual art — and installation pieces ($20 to $4,000).
What’s popular: Flower pins.
“I have made hundreds, maybe even thousands, of them over the years,” said Watson. “I dye my own silk and wool fibers and love how they are as individual as real flowers are in nature.”
“I also teach them in workshops because they are a great introduction into the world of wet felting,” she said.
Favorite tools: Her hands.
“My work is created by rubbing my hands across raw fibers, — layered with soap and water — causing friction and agitation that in turn makes the fibers entangle and create a textile form,” said Watson.
“No special tools are needed in traditional wet felting, which is what makes it globally accessible,” said Watson. “However, my wool fibers are carefully selected depending on what I am looking to create. I use Romney that has been raised on my family’s farm in Virginia for hats, Finn for sculpture, and Merino for Nuno and fine felting.”
Inspirations:
- From the people and places she has encountered.
- Experiences lived in her free-spirited life.
- Floral and geometric imagery.
Recent honors: Watson received a grant from The Verdant Fund to provide free workshops at the North Huntsville Public Library in Huntsville, AL. 2024. The library project was so successful that she again worked with them to secure additional grant funding via the Huntsville-Madison Public Library Foundation in 2025.
A plan is in the works to secure additional funding for future workshops.
Recent exhibitions:
- “The Wind Knows Why,” a solo exhibition of fiber and textile works at Leo Reynolds Gallery, Gadsden Museum of Art, Gadsden, AL. 2025.
- “Merkin Trust & Fellowship,” a curated group exhibition of women artists at the First Floor West Gallery, Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment, Huntsville, AL. 2025.
Current exhibitions:
- “Member Exhibition.” Alabama Women’s Caucus for Art Gallery, Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment, Huntsville, AL. Through May 30.
- “ALMAC 2nd Annual Artist Collaboration,” First Floor Main Gallery, Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment, Huntsville, AL. Through May 30.
What’s new: “From Source to Sea: Alabama Streams of She,” a juried exhibition at The Library Art Gallery, Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Birmingham, AL. May 1-June 25.
What’s next: Building a new body of fiber work, incorporating lots of vibrant colors, for a 2028 solo exhibition.
Where to buy:
- Artist’s studio in Huntsville and exhibitions.
- Flower pins are available at her studio and the Southern Highland Craft Guild galleries in Asheville, NC.
Connect:
- Instagram: @kamiwatsonstudio
- Website: kamiwatsonstudio.weebly.com
