Justin R. Cockrell
is a contemporary craftsperson, and educator using the language of fiber to produce textiles, furniture, and comfort objects. The goods they manufacture offer space for poetic and emotional exploration of identity and lineage through material. They believe that when you approach material as an equal, you can discover ways of collaboration that will bring us to a future beyond the current crisis.They were born to freedom in Columbus, Ohio and now live, and love, in the fallen capital of the confederacy, Richmond, Virginia as a Queer Black Mexican-American.
They have exhibited work at The Virginia MOCA, The Appalachian Center for Craft, The Bascom, ROY G BIV Gallery, The Anderson Gallery and has participated in craft workshops in various capacities at Penland School of Craft, Haystack Mountain School of Craft, Anderson Ranch Arts Center, Interlochen arts center, Center for Furniture Craftsmanship, and The Crafting the Future Teen Takeover. They are pursuing a BFA in Craft/Material studies and a BA in Foreign Language at Virginia Commonwealth University and are alumni of the Yale Norfolk School of Art.