Lauren DiCioccio

Founded in 2011 by Bay Area arts patron Ann Hatch, The Workshop Residence is based in San Francisco’s Dogpatch neighborhood and hosts eight individual artists—four local, four international—per year. The for-profit program pairs its resident artists with local factories or visiting artisans in order to design and make locally manufactured, affordable, and functional products. From linen napkins to silk scarves and reusable trompe l’oeil tote bags, the resulting products are sold in-store, online, and through various other outlets. I chatted with textile artist Lauren DiCioccio, who was in residence at the Workshop in March 2012; you can find her in SFMOMA’s atrium selling her wares via the Workshop Residence pop-up stand today, Friday May 31!

What do you make when you’re not making art?

I spend so much time making art that when I’m not doing that, I want to go on walks. I make exercise!

Do you collect anything?

Oh, I collect a lot of things. For one of my projects represented here I collected hundreds and hundreds of plastic shopping bags. In 2007 when San Francisco implemented its plastic bag ban, I wanted to make a series of artworks about it because my work deals with obsolescing objects of day-to-day life. So I began collecting plastic bags to recreate them in hand embroidery on organza. Once I started telling people I was collecting, people loved to ship me bags and bags and bags.

If you could spend an afternoon with anyone, living or dead, who would it be?

I would just like to spend an afternoon with my family. I have a twin sister who lives on the outer banks of North Carolina. I’d be more than happy to spend an afternoon with her!

What would I find in your refrigerator right now?

Hummus, a lot of hummus. And aioli.

What is your favorite tool?

Right now, a sewing needle.