From the very first moment we connected with Seth Apter, we knew something special was in the works. His creativity, authenticity, and generosity of spirit left a lasting impression on our team— and it didn’t take long for that spark to grow into a meaningful new partnership.
Seth’s work is layered, expressive, and deeply intentional— an extension of who he is as both an artist and a person. As the creative force behind Seth Apter Art & Design, his mixed media pieces invite exploration and spark curiosity, offering a fresh perspective on texture, color, and form. We were captivated not only by the depth of his artistry— spanning printmaking, bookbinding, stamping, and beyond— but by the warmth and openness he brings to everything he does.
Today, we’re thrilled to celebrate the launch of Seth’s debut thread collection with Aurifil, a bold and beautiful companion to his new On Your Mark fabric line with FreeSpirit Fabrics. Featuring a curated trio of 50wt, 28wt, and 12wt threads, this set was designed to inspire makers across disciplines— whether stitching, quilting, binding, layering, or embellishing.
We’re honored to play a part in Seth’s creative journey and look forward to many years of collaboration ahead. We hope you’ll join us in welcoming him to the Aurifil family, and enjoy this inspiring conversation that dives into his background, his process, and the passion behind it all.
Seth, we’re so thrilled to connect! To start, can you share a bit about how you first found your way into this creative world? What drew you to mixed media and led you to where you are today?
Happy to be able to share my story with you. It’s a long one but here is the short version.
My creative life began in the year 2000. Up until then, I had never been a maker but had always been an art lover. Living in NYC fueled that love. On a trip to Vancouver, Canada, I was drawn into a gallery at the end of my travels. I was mesmerized by the artwork there and in speaking with the gallery owner— Patricia Larsen— came to find out that she was also the artist. I purchased several small pieces and headed home. A few weeks later, I received a handmade postcard from Patricia thanking me for buying her work. I was so touched by this that I decided to answer her in kind, making my own postcard for her. Definitely a first for me.
A few weeks later, an envelope arrived from Patricia— this time a small painting on a torn book page. Once again, I felt compelled to respond. All I needed was a cheap watercolor set plus a poor attempt at painting and I sent her my reply. As you might have guessed, the envelopes kept coming. This exchange continued. For years. And many empty boxes were filled over that time. Each mail piece was an art lesson and it wasn’t long before art became a passionate hobby and then turned into my full time work.
Your work spans so many disciplines and you’ve said that art is everything. How does working within different mediums and experimenting with a variety of tools inform your overall creative voice?
Part of the reason I love mixed media is the very fact that anything goes. There is much creative freedom to be found when everything becomes a potential art supply. And working across different creative domains – collage, fabric design, bookmaking, hand stitching, painting, etc – also means that there is constant exploration and cross-pollination happening
You often talk about layering and storytelling in your art. How do you see that narrative quality translating into your fabric design?
I think all forms of art are the perfect vessels for storytelling. The layers in my work tell my story which, like everybody else’s, is complex, detailed, and everchanging over time. I generally work abstractly, so the story isn’t always obvious. But that means that when somebody else uses my fabric in their work, they can use it as a tool to tell their own, personal story. In this regard, a shout out to FreeSpirit who has managed to capture the layers in my art and so effectively bring them to fabric.
We’re so excited about your brand new collection with FreeSpirit, On Your Mark! What was the inspiration behind this line and what story does it tell?
Like my prior collections, these new designs are all developed from my original artwork. The name On Your Mark! reflects two different stories. I have spent a number of years exploring mark making as a means of expression. For me, marks can be mysterious shapes and symbols or they can be more definable, such as numbers, letters, words, and phrases. Both forms of marks are included in this collection. On Your Mark! is also the start of the well known phrase On Your Mark. Get Set. Go! This reflects my belief that it isn’t good to over think and that one should just jump right in and go with the flow when it comes to creativity.
Alongside the fabric release, you’re debuting a coordinating Aurifil thread set. Why was it important for you to include a mix of 50wt, 28wt, and 12wt threads in your collection?
I feel that it is important that any collection I release is authentic to me and reflects my own creative journey. My love of thread began when I started learning traditional book binding and it rapidly grew as I incorporated hand stitching into my mixed media work. For me, it is not only functional but also a form of expressive mark making. As such, I gravitate toward many different types of (usually wonky) stitches as well as a variety of thread weights. My hope is that it is in fact the variety in this set that will appeal to a potential user.
How do you see yourself using each of these weights in your personal work— particularly in your practices of book-binding and mixed media?
The heavier weights will be used both for the actual binding as well as the decorative hand stitching. The lighter weight appeals to me when I want a more subtle feel to the stitching. The variety that is reflected in the different collection weights is exactly what I want reflected in my work.
Can you walk us through your creative process when matching thread to fabric? What role does thread play in enhancing texture, line, or visual depth?
I always say let the layer tell you what it wants. So my choice is often guided by the materials themselves. Seems strange to say but sometimes the fabric designs want to scream – and I choose a heavy weight or double up a lighter weight thread with a color that provides a strong contrast. Other times, the layer wants to whisper and I will choose a thread color that is such a good match that it almost becomes one with the design. In terms of design, I often follow along with a mark already on the surface and then, at some point, am drawn to go off in some other direction.
What do you hope makers will experience when working with your fabric and thread collections together? Any unexpected ways you envision people using them?
I chose the colors because I felt that they pulled out the essence of the fabric designs and were strong color matches. My expectation though is that each artist will make their own personal choices based on their aesthetic and their story. I know I will be surprised by many.
Much of your work has a deeply urban, raw, and expressive quality. How does living in New York City inform your art— or do you find inspiration elsewhere?
I am inspired by a sense of place. That has a big impact on what I create and design. There is a lot of linearity in all my work which definitely reflects the grid of the streets of NYC and the lines of the buildings and windows everywhere. Within those lines there is often a jumble of people and energy and I try to capture that as well. Outside of New York, I am drawn to and inspired by New Mexico. So much of my work – and this collection – is also inspired by the colors and vibe of the desert as well. A nice contrast for sure.
Your design aesthetic feels very intuitive and layered. Are there certain visual cues or symbols that you return to again and again?
Earlier in my creative path, I was very drawn to circles. Both the shape and the symbolism meant a lot to me. Of late, I am more inspired by marks. Some of these can be labeled – such as Xs, crosses, squares, and lines. Others are much harder to describe in words.
What does your creative space look like right now— and how do you stay inspired during busy seasons of travel, product development, and collaboration?
I work from my apartment and do my very best to stay organized. But it is a constant redo to keep everything in its place as it always looks like a whirlwind has come by when I work. I do like to surround myself with things that inspire me and I have an annual ritual where I create an inspiration wall that is about 3 x 2 feet with a collage of inspirational stuff. I take it down fully in December and rebuild it from scratch in January. I think because I travel so much and work in so many different areas of art, I always feel inspired.
Where can we hope to find you this year— whether teaching, exhibiting, or connecting with fellow makers?
I am excited to be returning to exhibit my books at Art on Paper in NYC this September. It is a wonderful way to kick off a new season. I spend a great deal of time traveling to teach and design and this year has brought or will bring me to Australia, Germany, France, England, and all over the United States.
Are there any new projects or launches you’re particularly excited about?
My next collection with FreeSpirt is already complete and will release in January 2026. I am extra excited about it because it is a bit of a departure from my prior collections but is completely still true to me.
As someone who’s built a multifaceted creative business while maintaining a strong personal voice, what advice would you offer to other artists who are hoping to do the same?
Do what you love and be authentic to who you are. In other words, don’t reach for a trend or create what you think would be popular or desired by companies or consumers. Be ready and willing to work hard and around the clock. Don’t be afraid of the business side of this career – it is actually equally important to the creative side. And finally remember that you never know who is watching. Be the kind of person – always – that people can respect, be inspired by, and imagine working with.
Finally, when you think about your journey— artist, educator, designer, collaborator— what has been the most surprising or rewarding part?
I think the surprise for me is that underlying everything I do is community. Making the art and designing the products is wonderful but wouldn’t mean nearly as much if I couldn’t share it with the people who I have so strongly connected with. The community is creative fuel and such a big part of what I do!
We can’t thank Seth enough for taking the time to chat with us and hope you leave feeling as inspired as we do!! Be sure to find him online and follow along for continued inspiration: Website | Instagram
And — don’t miss his interview with Brandi Maslowski on Quilter on Fire— click HERE to learn more and listen via your favorite service.
Images & Artwork by Seth Apter