From Foraged to Fiber: Artist Sean Tyler Weaves Oklahoma Landscapes into Stunning Art

Tulsa, get ready to see landscapes in a whole new light. Local fiber artist Sean Tyler is bringing her unique, handcrafted world to the Tulsa Artists’ Coalition (TAC) gallery this July in her first-ever solo show, “I Guess You Had to Be There.” And trust us, you’ll want to be there.

Tyler’s art embodies the idea that beauty can be found everywhere—from the wool of an alpaca to the plants growing in a ditch. She starts her creative process by sourcing raw, unprocessed wool, which she then transforms into fine floss. And here’s where it gets truly special: the colors she uses are born from nature itself. Tyler forages for grasses, plants, roots, wood shavings, and even insects to create her own natural dyes, creating a palette that is as authentic as the landscapes she depicts.

Using these hand-dyed fibers, she embroiders intricate landscapes that capture the very places where she found her materials. The result? Stunningly detailed pieces that range from three-by-four-inch canvases to large, hand-hooked rugs.

To capture the Oklahoma scenery for this show, Tyler used a vintage Polaroid camera. The resulting photographs, with their nostalgic hues and charming imperfections, serve as the inspiration for her fiber creations.

“I chose the Polaroid precisely because it doesn’t deliver perfect reproductions,” Tyler says. “Instead, I get something often flawed, but beautifully tinted and serendipitous.”

Tyler earned her MFA in 2023. She’s a passionate advocate for textile art, a medium that has historically been dismissed but is now gaining the recognition it deserves. “I totally believe and respect that creating textiles is an art form and I wanted to bring it back,” she says.

In addition to her small, embroidered works, the exhibit will feature large, hand-hooked rugs, some measuring up to four by five feet. Tyler is excited to see how the varying scales of her work will fill the TAC gallery space. While she has exhibited in group shows across the country, this solo exhibition marks a major milestone in her career.

Her connection to natural dyes is a personal one, inspired by her grandmother, a passionate gardener who gave her a natural dye kit as a child. This early gift blossomed into a lifelong love of botany and foraging.

“I Guess You Had to Be There” opens on Friday, July 6, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Tulsa Artists’ Coalition gallery at 9 E. Reconciliation Way. The exhibit will be on display until July 26.