Regina Durante Jestrow is an Italian-American textile artist living and working in Miami, Florida, who grew up in Queens, NY. Her artistic journey began in her formative years, as she learned sewing and crocheting from her mother, igniting a passion that would become a lifelong force. This connection to textiles is the bedrock of her artistic practice, stretching and challenging quilt forms and structures while considering the activist values that shaped historic quilt-making traditions. Relocating to Miami allowed Jestrow to delve into quilting, becoming a source of solace and creative expression. In her Miami home studio, the sewing machine, a symbol of comfort and creativity, continues taking center stage.
Jestrow’s work challenges notions of traditional quilt-making and textile arts. Her artistic exploration is deeply rooted in women's rights and history, combined with a deep appreciation for the patterns and stories drawn from the enduring traditions of American quilt-making. Her art quilts feature a fusion of new and second-hand fabrics, including hand-dyed and manipulated textiles, through various techniques, including natural and reactive dyes, inks, and acrylics. The resulting pieces reflect the colors and patterns that evoke Miami's dynamic cultural diversity and landscape. Her affinity for quilts pushes the boundaries of the medium, resulting in a diverse body of work that includes painting, drawings, sculptural installations, textile wall hangings, and functional objects.
Selected solo projects include “Everything Mixing Always” at Baker–Hall (2025), “Lots of Little Pieces (aka My Favorite Color is Glitter)” at Miami-Dade College Kendall Gallery, Miami, FL (2025), and “Americana Quilts: Reinterpretation of Tradition” at Laundromat Art Space, Miami, FL (2022).
Selected group exhibitions include “Slow Light,” at Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts, “A Space Between Worlds” at Wassaic Projects, Wassaic, NY (2024), and "Hand Over Hand: Textiles Today” at Mindy Solomon Gallery, Miami, FL (2023).
Public and private Collections include the Beth Rudin DeWoody Collection, the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, and the Miami International Airport, MIA Galleries.
Public art commissions include The Shelborne by Proper Hotels and Google Store Miami.
Jestrow has been awarded artist residencies at MassMoca (2026), The Sam and Adele Golden Foundation (2024), and National Park Service Artist in Residence in the Everglades (AIRIE) (2014).
Awarded grants include the South Florida Cultural Consortium (SFCC, 2023), Miami Individual Artists (MIA) Grant (2022 - 2025), The Ellies, Miami’s Visual Arts Awards, Oolite Arts (2021), and the Artist Access Grant, Miami-Dade County and FUNdarte (2021 - 2026).
