Adana Tillman (b.1985)
Comrades in Contrast, 2022
Commissioned by Summa Health
Materials: Appliquéd fabrics on hand-dyed silk with hand-quilted details, 6’ x 8’
Location at Summa: Juve Family Behavioral Health Pavilion, Ground Floor, Main Lobby
About the Artwork
Adana Tillman, an Akron native now based in Atlanta, began creating her vibrant fiber works for personal exploration and occasional Instagram postings, only sharing them publicly as recently as 2016. Her process involves sourcing unusual fabrics that either inspire her directly or are altered through various techniques, including dyeing, stamping, bleaching, quilting, appliquéing, embroidering, and beading. These techniques, combined with her keen observational eye, bring the human figure to life, often capturing moments from daily life that are both immediate and lively.
Tillman’s work, Comrades in Contrast, features five figures grouped together as if posing for a casual photograph. The piece celebrates both racial and gender diversity, while highlighting the individuality of each figure through distinct poses and personal style choices, such as unique hair, clothing, and shoes. Tillman’s inventive use of fabric to represent features like hair and skin adds depth and personality to each figure. She cleverly cuts and arranges the fabric to convey the essence of each individual, leaving certain facial and other details to the viewer's imagination.
The artist often sketches ideas in a larger notebook before translating them into her fabric compositions, sometimes drawing from family and friends as models. The size of this fiber piece immediately demands attention, inviting viewers to step back and appreciate its full scope. Upon closer inspection, the whimsical details, such as the elaborately designed footwear, reveal Tillman’s playful approach to fabric and form. The intricate shoes, in particular, become a focal point, tempting viewers to look for hidden labels or other details, adding an element of intrigue and delight.
This work speaks to the richness of personal identity, the bonds of friendship, and the unique beauty found in individual expression.
In Her Purpose, 2020
Materials: Appliquéd found fabric on hand-dyed textile with hand embroidery, 43 1/2” (including foot) x 45”
Location at Summa: Dr. Gary B. and Pamela S. Williams Tower on the Akron Campus, ground floor, left of T elevators
In Her Purpose, was awarded the 2022 Acquisition Prize.
About the Art
Adana Tillman’s work in fiber is known for its large scale and imaginative use of patterns, textures, and colors that bring her figural compositions to life. Her figures command presence, both for their boldness and the way they capture dynamic energy.
In In Her Purpose, Tillman presents a slightly smaller-than-life-sized woman striding forward with purpose. A large tote clutched under her right arm, she balances confidently on her right leg, her left foot raised high in mid-step, embodying potential motion. The artist emphasizes this energy by allowing the raised foot to extend beyond the quilted background, isolated in outline against the wall, creating a sense of motion that is almost larger than life.
The footwear, bold and patterned like today’s popular sport shoes, stands out against the more subdued colors of her clothes, drawing attention to this important symbol of purpose and movement. The contrast between the bright shoes and the more neutral tones of her clothing hints at the character’s assertiveness and individuality.
Set against the structured grid of the hand silk-screened and quilted background, this figure is dynamic yet grounded, solid, and confident in her stride. Tillman’s choice to leave the face undefined invites the viewer to focus on the details of her clothing, hair, and accessories, all of which are conveyed through the fabrics Tillman selects and manipulates to reflect the figure’s personality. In this piece, Tillman’s figures transform into characters, as carefully styled and posed as actors on a stage, intent on their own journey.
With In Her Purpose, Tillman masterfully invites us to engage with the figure’s energy and narrative without offering us an explicit story. This woman is on her path, focused and self-assured, and her attention is not on us. The viewer, however, may find themselves drawn in, wanting to explore the intricate details of the quilting, sewing, and hand-stitching that bring this vibrant figure to life.
About the Artist
Adana Tillman began her creative journey with sewing at an early age, learning from her mother, a quilter and seamstress, as well as from her teachers at the Miller South Visual and Performing Arts School. Although she majored in Business Administration at the University of Akron, it was in Atlanta, after completing her college studies, that Tillman says her work and personal identity truly blossomed.
Leveraging her business education, Tillman sought out opportunities, built a strong network, and identified sources of inspiration and support. A pivotal moment came when she connected with a group of Black women artists who not only shared valuable information but also encouraged each other to take creative risks. This sense of community and empowerment led to significant milestones, beginning with a year-long Garden Fellowship from TILA Studios in 2019, which provided professional development and the opportunity to exhibit at Art Basel/Miami alongside four other Black women artists.
Tillman’s career continued to flourish with multiple artist residencies, including at the Hambridge Center for Creative Arts in 2020, Akron Soul Train in 2021, and in Vancouver, B.C., in May 2022. Most recently, she completed a residency in Berlin in Fall 2022. Her work has been supported by multiple grants and is showcased at galleries such as Wish Gallery and Mint Gallery in Atlanta.
Where You Can See More of This Artist’s Work
Adana Tillman’s intricate fiber creations are featured at the Akron Public Library and the Akron Civic Theatre, as well as on her website.
The Healing Arts at Summa Health
- Next featured artist: Muriel Tillman
- Homepage: summahealth.org/art
- More artwork in new patient tower