Julie in her studio at the Textile Arts Center
Julie Rose Clapton (she/her) is a fiber-based artist living and working in Great Barrington. After studying textiles at the Rhode Island School of Design, she went on to complete a residency with the Textile Arts Center (Brooklyn, NY) as part of AIR Cycle 15. Her practice spans weaving, knitting, spinning, felting, papermaking, and performance. Her material processes are grounded in care, with a focus on wool and natural dyes, and are designed with a life cycle in mind, ensuring all her work can eventually return to the Earth.
Julie and Mary inspecting a fleece
Mary and Julie quickly became best friends and Julie spent the next summer at the farm, tending to the flock and flowers, and finishing a body of work using the farm's wool. The end of her residency culminated with an exhibition in New York showcasing the pieces made in collaboration with the farm and can be seen below, entitled Magdalene and Wildthing. She has been awarded the title of a Young Heritage Craft Maker for the United Kingdom and exhibited Magdalene at their Young Makers Exhibition in 2025.
This year Julie moved to the farm to become a full time farmer and fiber artist!
She was introduced to Mary while on a quest to connect with a farm who could supply her with wool. Mary invited her to the farm where she met the flock and collected some of their yearly shearing. Julie spent the next few months learning the process of fleece to fiber and went on to volunteer at Lila’s Mountain Farm during Lambing season.
Mary and Julie on the farm
“Care is inherent in both of our practices, in raising a lamb to transforming fleece to yarn. I have learned to work alongside the land and to move at the pace of seasons particularly in terms of my material production.”
Portfolio
Artwork created in collaboration with the farm
Magdalene
Magdalene
Magdalene
Magdalene
Magdalene
Magdalene
Listen.
Sounds collected from Lila’s Mountain Farm.
Wildthing
Wildthing
Wildthing
Wildthing