In her Romano Gallery exhibit, Tender Resistance, Natalie Baxter transforms symbols of protest, power and domestic life into soft, sculptural forms. At the center are her textile chairs, made from repurposed bedsheets. These everyday objects, often used to rest, mourn and gather, draw attention to the overlooked labor of domestic work. The exhibit runs from August 30 to September 26, with an artist talk on September 18.

Surrounding the chairs in her upcoming exhibit are Ms. Baxter’s reworked flags, firearms and quilted depictions of the mundane. Each piece challenges traditional narratives by replacing hardness with softness and aggression with care. Ms. Baxter’s work suggests that resistance does not have to be loud to be strong and that softness can be a powerful expression of strength. 

“Drawing on generations of family quilting traditions in Kentucky, my work playfully engages with divisive social and political matters. Stuffed caricatures of assault weapons, reimagined American flags and protest banners featuring online comments about my gender and sexuality are examples of my work constructed from fabric,” said Ms. Baxter. Through her work she challenges traditional symbols of authority while elevating craft and care as acts of resistance.

Ms. Baxter was born and raised in Lexington, Kentucky. She studied fine arts at Sewanee, the University of the South, inTennessee, graduating with her BA in 2007. She then went on to earn her MFA from the University of Kentucky in 2012. Ms. Baxter has shared her talented work nationally and internationally. Her work has been exhibited in galleries and museums in the United States, Europe and Asia. Ms. Baxter’s exhibitions have been at such notable places as the Mattatuck Museum, the New York Historical Society and Denny Dimin Gallery.

Ms. Baxter hopes that students can learn from her pieces, seeing that “By blending humor with nostalgia, my pieces transform familiar Americana into an alternative narrative that reflects both personal experiences and broader societal dynamics.” 

All are welcome to attend the artist talk with Ms. Natalie Baxter on September 18, 2025, in Blair’s Romano Gallery.