Meet the Rhode Island Artist Turning Thread and Canvas into Functional Art

In a world where art is typically framed and hung on walls, Suzanne Noonan poses a bold question: Why not walk on it instead?

The Rhode Island-based artist is redefining the boundaries of fine art with her hand-painted floor canvases and richly textured fiber pieces – works that are as interactive as they are beautiful. “I wanted to bring art off the wall and into everyday life,” Noonan says. “Something that could be touched, walked on, and lived with.”

A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design’s Textile Design program, Noonan’s creative foundation is rooted in fabric, paint, and stitches. Her work merges visual storytelling with a tactile experience. “Paint gives immediacy and expression, while fiber adds depth, rhythm, and texture,” she explains. “Working with both feels like combining two distinct languages to create balance.”

Her floorcloths are designed to last over a decade, beginning with heavyweight canvas and custom stencils. She strengthens each piece with layers of paint, stitched seams, and multiple coats of urethane to ensure durability. In contrast to her floorcloths, her fiber art features a distinctive “thread painting” technique. “I layer threads of varying weights and rapidly move my sewing machine across the canvas to build texture and depth,” she explains. “It creates a dimensional effect that draws people in and invites them to touch.”

Noonan finds inspiration in Rhode Island’s shifting coastline, industrial architecture, and tight-knit creative community. “The natural rhythm of this place grounds me,” she says. “The slower pace and the old mill buildings—these elements feed into my work.”

Her fiber pieces embody the same ethos: organic, layered, and deeply personal. “Fiber has a history; it carries stories,” Noonan says. “Layering it feels like embedding memory into a piece.”

For those interested in forging a similar path, she offers this advice: “Follow your curiosity. Let your materials lead you somewhere unexpected.” Locals can explore her work at Hotpoint Emporium in Bristol or online via her Etsy shop ArtForYourFloorcloth. Keep up with upcoming exhibits, workshops, and musings on Instagram @s.housley.noonan or at SuzanneHousleyNoonan.com.