About

 

My name is Reed Slater, and I'm an artist living in Brooklyn, NY. Since 2012, I've been creating artwork using teabags, a process I discovered by accident while drinking tea. Intrigued by the patterns that tea left on paper, I began experimenting, eventually dedicating over a decade to perfecting this technique.

My studio became a laboratory, covered in sheets of paper with teabags in various stages of drying. Each teabag left its mark differently—some sticking to the paper, others peeling off easily. Once the teabags were removed, I pressed the paper flat with a hot iron and photographed the images to capture their full vibrancy. These early experiments became pillow covers, while more refined designs evolved into larger patterns, perfect for scarves.

To bring these designs to life on fabric, I use a digital acid printing process that bonds my art to natural fibers like silk and wool, creating richly colored textiles. The Teascarf Brooklyn Collection, founded in 2012, showcases the best of these prints, reflecting the beauty that can emerge from such a simple medium.

After a traumatic brain injury and subsequent coma left me unable to work outside my studio, I turned fully to my art. This challenge became an opportunity, allowing me to transform my passion into a sustainable livelihood. Every scarf and pillow cover is a piece of my journey, carefully crafted and packaged for those who appreciate the unique beauty of my work.

Thank you for being part of my story and supporting my art.