“Patricia Gillespie’s work amuses and then punches. She takes the viewer past the first impression by using her humor and irony to seduce the viewer to take another look, to think about the context she has created. After the work begins to sink in the charm of the piece takes on a different appeal. There is a place, a condition, a sense of identity that she wants us to see and contemplate. With wood figures held in relief over quilted backgrounds Gillespie’s work offers a glimpse at a moment that has a past and she seems to ask the viewer to take that moment and finish the story for themselves.”


“Though bordering on hilarious, Gillespie’s expressions are significant in their construction. Composed of painted wood cutouts floating above finely quilted fabrics, Gillespie’s panels are not easily dismissed. In fact, my mind’s eye continues to revisit Gillespie’s imagery well after experiencing her show.”


“Storytelling is at the heart of Bay Area artist Patricia Gillespie's mixed-media works at Verge. Satirizing female roles, she makes piquant images that hover between sculpture, fiber art and painting.  The construction of these domestic tableaux is thorough, witty, and reminiscent of early pop art in its deadpan critique of banality.”

“Elegant drawing, vivid color, and flawless craftsmanship make for witty evocations of the contemporary woman's world.”