Check Out River Forest Berry’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to River Forest Berry.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’ve been making art for as long as I can remember. My Nana taught me how to sew when I was young, and my father is an artist, so I spent much of my childhood in studios, galleries, and museums. I grew up in Akron, Ohio, and attended Firestone High School’s visual arts program, where I was introduced to art history, film photography, and printmaking—disciplines that continue to shape my practice today.

After high school, I attended the University of Akron before transferring to the Columbus College of Art & Design, where I earned a BFA in History of Art & Visual Culture. During that time, I discovered a passion for curating, arts administration, and education through roles with ROY G BIV Gallery, the Columbus Museum of Art, Sean Christopher Gallery, and 934 Gallery.

In 2024, I moved to Ann Arbor to pursue an MFA in Interdisciplinary Fine Arts at the University of Michigan, graduating in 2026. Since then, I’ve continued working with the university as a curatorial assistant at the University of Michigan Museum of Art while maintaining an active studio practice centered on textiles, installation, and performance.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Deciding to leave Ohio was one of the hardest choices I’ve made, but I knew I needed to step outside my comfort zone to grow as both an artist and a person. Along the way, I’ve worked many different jobs to gain experience across museums, galleries, education, and nonprofit arts organizations while continuing to build my own studio practice. Finding stable, full-time employment has been challenging, which is a reality many artists face, but each experience has helped shape my career and reinforced my commitment to making art and contributing to the arts community.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a fiber artist whose work explores memory, place, and the ways landscapes hold personal and collective histories. Working primarily with quilting, textiles, and installation, I draw from family photographs, oral histories, and the changing landscapes of the Midwest to create works that examine how we form emotional connections to place. My practice combines traditional textile techniques with performance and installation, treating quilts as sculptural objects that carry stories, labor, and memory.

I’m most proud of creating work that encourages people to reflect on their own relationships to memory, belonging, and craft. Viewers often share personal memories after experiencing my installations, and those conversations are one of the most rewarding parts of my practice. I think what sets my work apart is the way it bridges craft traditions with contemporary art, using the familiar language of quilts to explore broader questions about migration, identity, and the landscapes we inherit. By weaving together personal narratives with regional histories, I hope to create spaces where individual memories become part of a shared experience.

How do you define success?
I define success by the impact my work has on others rather than by traditional milestones. If a piece creates space for someone to reflect on their own memories, family history, or sense of place, then I feel it has succeeded. Success also means having the opportunity to continue making meaningful work while remaining curious and open to learning. As an artist, educator, and curator, I hope to contribute to a creative community that values connection, collaboration, and care. While exhibitions and professional opportunities are important, lasting relationships and the conversations my work sparks are what I value most.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://riverfberry.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/r.forestberry