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Renée Fleuranges-Valdes
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Artist Speaker Author Teacher
Professional backgound
Over the last 10+ years or so, I have added the role of textile artist, designer, teacher, lecturer and quilt show judge to my resume. Textile Art is my new full time addiction!
For 38 years I worked in the world of software, selling software solutions both directly and indirectly for IBM. But my passion is fiber. I LOVE to touch fabric, to play with color and to add texture with quilting and embellishing.
Work experience
Quilted Artistry by Renee: Textile Artist
2000 - present
From the first class, I knew I was hooked. After making my first king size bed quilt, of course everyone in my family needed a homemade quilt. Well, close family and babies, that is :-). Over the years, I have evolved and now I primarily make art quilts, meant to hang on the wall as art.
I enjoy teaching, lecturing and judging quilt shows, as the requests come in, but most of the time, you can find me in my studio, playing with fabric.
IBM: Software Sales / Cloud Sales & Business Development
1981 - 2019
I won't bore you with the gory details, but suffice it to say I enjoyed a long and prosperous career in the tech world. I held numerous positions, including programmer, systems engineer, sales rep, product manager, market manager, marketing manager, business development exec, and strategist, with managerial and leadership roles sprinkled throughout. Over the last 20 years I held many different roles as a trail blazer, finding new paths to revenue, selling in ways and countries IBM had never sold before. No two days were the same, and the challenge of solving new problems almost daily was extremely rewarding.
2010 - present
2010 - present
Education
Utica College of Syracuse University
1977 - 1981
Major: Biology
Dual Minors: Computer Science & Education
Gallery and Museum Showings
The Okeeba Jubalo Fine Art Gallery, North Charleston, SC - Spring Fling (2023); Charleston & Friends Exhibition (2023)
The Aviation Cultural Center, Atlanta, GA - Atlanta & Friends Exhibition (2023)
The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art, St. Petersburg, FL - Black Pioneers: Legacy in the American West (2022/2023) (This is a traveling exhibit by the Women of Colors Quilting Network, Curated by Dr Carolyn Mazloomi. Also exhibited at: Booth Western Art Museum, Atlanta, GA 2022; The California Museum, Sacramento, CA 2023)
The Historic Penn Center, St. Helena Island, SC - Coloring Your Life, a Solo Exhibit (2022)
City Gallery at Waterfront Park, Charleston, SC - Griots of Cotton, Indigo & Clay (2022)
Park Circle Gallery, North Charleston, SC - Finding JOY!, Solo Exhibit (2022)
Bertha Lee Strickland Cultural Museum, Seneca, SC (2021)
Booth Library Gallery, Newtown, Ct - Alphabetica by FANE (2021)
The Textile Center, Minneapolis, Mn - We Are The Story (2021)
Brookgreen Gardens, Wall Lowcountry Center, Murrells Inlet, SC - Sankofa (2021)
North Charleston Gallery, North Charleston, SC - Numerous (2012-2019, 2021 - 2023)
Morris Center for Lowcountry Heritage, Ridgeville, SC - Black Gold (2019/2020)
Black Archives of Mid-America, Kansas City, Mo - Inner Glory (2019) Solo Exhibit
National Afro-American Museum & Cultural Center, Wilberforce, Oh - Yours for Race and Country: The Life of Colonel Charles Young (2019)
City Gallery at Waterfront Park, Charleston, NY - Mermaids & Merwomen in Black Folklore (2012); A Dialogue in Black and White (2018); Celebrating Black Mermaids: From Africa to America (2023)
Etui Gallery, Larchmont, NY - Colors of Life (2015) Solo Exhibit
Katonah Library Gallery, Katonah, NY - FANE (2014, 2015)
DMA Gallery, Pelham, NY - Fabric of America (2014)
Rotunda Gallery, New Rochelle, NY - Pelham Quilters (2012)
City Quilter Gallery, New York, NY - Kimono Inspirations by FANE (2011)
Publications
Black Pioneers: Legacy in the American West, by Dr Carolyn Mazloomi, 2022
Today's Quilter Magazine: Issue 90, Fearless Quilting; Issue 91 to current issue, a monthly column - Notes from the Classroom
Charleston Magazine: Featured Artist, February 2022
We Are The Story: A Visual Response to Racism by Dr Carolyn Mazloomi, 2021
QuiltFolk Magazine, Issue 15, 2020
A Dialog in Black and White, by Curator, Torreah "Cookie" Washington, 2019
Yours for Race and Country: The Life of Colonel Charles Young, by Dr Carolyn Mazloomi, 2019
Mermaids & Merwomen in Black Folkore, by Curator, Torreah "Cookie" Washington, 2012