PORTIA M. YORK, Ph.D.

Fiber Artist • Educator
Charlotte, NC
portiamarieyork.com | portiayork@gmail.com

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ARTIST STATEMENT / PROFILE

Fiber artist and educator specializing in crochet, sewing, embroidery, weaving, and hand-dyeing, with a practice grounded in cultural storytelling, material exploration, and STEAM-based creative inquiry. Works across natural and synthetic fibers to create expressive, contemporary textile works that merge traditional craft with modern design. Experienced collaborating with galleries, colleges, youth-centered organizations, and nonprofits. Skilled in teaching, public engagement, and building community partnerships through the fiber arts.

 

EDUCATION

Ph.D., Curriculum & Instruction (Urban Education)
University of North Carolina at Charlotte

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Master of Management
Cambridge College

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Bachelor of Arts
Clark University

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Master Certification in Advanced Crochet Stitches & Techniques

Crochet Guild of America

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SOLO EXHIBITIONS 

2024
You Are…,Gaston County Museum of Art, Dallas, NC

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2023–2025
Niche Knits: The Interlooped History of Hosiery Textiles and Fashion, Featured Artist, Gaston County Museum of Art, Dallas, NC

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2023
Bras of Beauty, The Pauline Tea-Bar Apothecary, Charlotte, NC

Insatiable Fibers, Jeanne Rauch Gallery, Gaston College, Dallas, NC

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GROUP EXHIBITIONS 

2024–2025
The Clothes I Wear, The Turchin Center for Visual Arts, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC

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2017, 2022
South Carolina State Museum Traveling Exhibits Program (10-Month Traveling Exhibition)

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2016, 2017, 2022
Annual African American Fiber Artist Exhibit, City of Charleston Cultural Arts Department, Charleston, SC

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2010–2015 
Dalton Gallery, Clinton College, Bras of Beauty solo exhibit, Clinton, SC, 2014

Carolina Breast Friends Pink Boots Ball (Auction Artist), Charlotte, NC, 2014, 2015
Bras of Beauty, Solo Exhibition, Dalton Gallery, Clinton College
Trinity Episcopal School Art Show, Charlotte, NC
Women Centered Art Exhibitions, Charlotte, NC

Project Art Aid & American Cancer Society Auction, Charlotte, NC, 2011

Trinity Episcopal School Art Show, Charlotte, NC, 2013

State of South Carolina, South Carolina State Museum (10 months) Traveling Exhibits Program, SC, 2017, 2022

City of North Charleston, Annual African American Fiber Artist Exhibit, Charleston, SC, 2016, 2017, 2022

The Arts Factory at Johnson C. Smith University, QC Family, Tree My Momma Told Me group show, Charlotte, NC, 2023

The Arts Factory at Johnson C. Smith University, QC Family Tree Unconventional group show, Charlotte, NC, 2023

Mint Hill Arts Juried Shows
Providence Gallery, Charlotte, NC
Art House Co-op Projects, Atlanta, GA & Brooklyn Art Library, NY
Channel 9 TV News Gallery, Charlotte, NC
Dore Academy Art Auction, Charlotte, NC

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RESIDENCIES

South Porch Residency — Summerville, SC
Artist-in-Residence (1 week), November 2025

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TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Lenoir-Rhyne University (2023–Present)
FIN 188: Fibers I

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UNC Charlotte
ARTF 2151: Fibers I (2021–2023)

Additional courses in Urban Education (TA / Invited Instructor roles, 2017–2019)

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Fiber Arts & Crochet Workshops (Selected Locations):
– Nassau, Bahamas (children’s home)
– Antigua, Guatemala (school programs)
– Charlotte, NC (summer camps, Teen Health Connection, community programs)
– John Crosland School, Charlotte, NC (Founded crochet club for grades 6–12)

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PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

CEO & Creative Educator, York Creative Education Group (2020–Present)
Consultant, Educational Programs & Nonprofit Strategy (2025–Present)
Director of Advancement, The John Crosland School (2017–2022)
Director of Enrollment Management, The John Crosland School (2007–2017)

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COMMUNITY ARTS & WORKSHOPS (SELECTED)

YMCA Steele Creek — Youth Fiber Arts Workshops (2023–2024)
North Cross School, VA — Crochet Circles & Artist Talks (2023)
Gaston College — Crochet Circle Program (2023)
Mecklenburg County Health Department — Teen Fiber Arts Workshops (2013)
Haiti (Milot, Tovar, Tremese) — Arts & Literacy Community Development (2012)
Bilney Lane Children’s Home, Bahamas — Crochet Lessons for Orphaned Youth (2012)
Trinity Episcopal School — Youth Crochet Programs (2011)

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ARTISTIC & PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

– Founder & CEO, York Creative Education Group
– Designer of innovative fiber arts curricula integrating math, STEAM, and cultural history
– Specialist in crochet-based STEAM programs for youth
– Researcher of the well-being and therapeutic benefits of crochet
– Workshop facilitator for youth programs in the U.S. and abroad

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PUBLICATIONS

The Influence of Dramatic Arts on Literacies for Black Girls in Middle School (Author)

York, P. M., Zhang, S., Yang, M.,& Muthukumar, V. (2023, April). Crochet: Engaging secondary school girls in art for STEAM’s sake. 

Roundtable discussion. American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting. Chicago, IL.

York, P. M., (2022, April). Speak out and speak up: Positive impacts of drama art on literacies of black girls. Paper presentation. American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting. San Diego, CA.

York, P. M. (2018, August).  Integrating Arts into STEM for Black Students: Culture, Engagement, and Motivation (accepted).Western New York (WNY) STEAM Conference, Deamen College, Amhert, NY.

York, P. M. (2017, June). Weaving Biological Cells to Teach Community (accepted). Lily Conferences – Evidenced Based Teaching, Bethesda, MD.

 

RESEARCH, PRESENTATIONS & ART-RELATED SCHOLARSHIP (SELECTED)

American Educational Research Association Annual Meetings (2022, 2023, 2024)
#CryptoCrochet presentations (UC Santa Barbara; UNC Charlotte)
Western NY STEAM Conference — Arts & STEM Integration
Lilly Conferences on Evidence-Based Teaching
Invited Talks: Creativity in Fiber Arts (Trinity Episcopal School; UC Santa Barbara; North Cross School)

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SELECTED HONORS & AWARDS

Urban Education Collaborative Doctoral Fellow (2017–2019)
2nd Place, Humanities/Education/Arts, Graduate Research Symposium (2016)
Valoria B. Burch Award for Curriculum & Innovation in Alternative Education (2016)

 

GRANTS (SELECTED)

Beyond Open Small Business Grant – Principal Investigator ($7,000), 2023
Longleaf Foundation Grant – Researcher ($16,000), 2019
Braswell Foundation STEAM Makerspace Grant – Grant Writer ($40,500), 2018
PI for NSF Proposal #CryptoCrochet (Under Review, $1M), 2023

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COMMUNITY & EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP

– 15 years of experience as a school administrator supporting diverse learners
– Program designer for arts-based STEAM initiatives
– Fundraiser for innovative learning programs advancing access and equity

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SERVICE & AFFILIATIONS

Crochet Guild of America
American Educational Research Association
Scientific Advisory Council Member – Project Scientist STEAM Initiative (2024)
Board & Community Leadership Roles (Carolina Breast Friends, Possibility Project, etc.)

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ARTISTIC INFLUENCES

Xenobia Bailey, Bisa Butler, Faith Ringgold, Nick Cave, Jo Hamilton, Olek, Toshiko MacAdam, Nneka Jones

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