Io the Alien / Sarah Spencer
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iothealien.com
Io the Alien / Sarah Spencer
@iothealien.com
460 followers 130 following 280 posts
Pop Art Textile Portraits

National award-winning multi-hyphenate artist and host of Alien Broadcast on CHIRP Radio 107.1fm Chicago

https://bio.site/iothealien
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Io the Alien / Sarah Spencer @iothealien.com · Jul 15
Excited to announce that I will be a guest on Quilting Arts TV, hitting PBS stations this Fall. We shot 3 segments this morning, and I can’t wait to share my tricks with you!

#quiltsky
Sarah and Susan Brubaker Knapp, host of QA TV, standing on set Sarah with the producer and director on set, going over the flow of a segment Sarah and Susan filming, with camera gear all around them Four of Sarah’s pieces on the QA TV set
iothealien.com
I’m super excited to announce a new workshop with @craftymonkies.bsky.social: Learn thread painting with me in 2026! Grab your spot soon, as my last workshop sold out. 💥

www.craftymonkies.com/live-zoom-wo...
Poster advertising thread painting zoom workshop on February 7, 2026
October 29, 2025 at 8:35 PM
iothealien.com
I’m particularly satisfied of this ink drawing I did of David Bowie. I couldn’t resist adding some copper watercolor to his forehead. This one is currently en route to his new home. 💖 #artsky #bowie
Ink drawing on paper of David Bowie as Ziggy Stardust, with a golden circle on his forehead.
September 29, 2025 at 11:57 PM
iothealien.com
Bill Nighy, amirite? (He’s a delight)
Ink drawing of Bill Nighy with a quizzical expression
September 7, 2025 at 1:15 AM
iothealien.com
Listening to my kid’s tv show, I misheard “heroes of the day” as “here is a bidet,” and I realized: they’re totally interchangeable.

Slide one into your conversations today. 🤘

Including an image of a thread portrait I made for eye candy.

#artsky
8” x 8” x 1.5” canvas artwork in a wooden floater frame. The artwork is created by first painting on raw canvas, and then stitching a drawing using a sewing machine and black cotton thread. Loose black threads are purposely visible across the canvas. This image is a thread sketch of a 1920s flapper woman, looking confidently over her shoulder, and holding a fur accessory, and wearing an extra long pearl necklace wrapped several times around her neck and back. The canvas is painted abstractly with a triangular patch of lime green and a small square of muted red-violet.
September 2, 2025 at 2:19 PM
iothealien.com
I recently created this work, honouring the inimitable Kate Bush. She’s an incredible artist, pioneer, and someone I respect for doing things her own way.

Do you have a favourite Kate Bush song?
Framed square portrait of Kate Bush, created from mixed media (acrylic paint and cotton thread). The canvas is framed in a natural wood floater frame, and is shown against a neutral wall. Detail of thread portrait of Kate Bush
August 22, 2025 at 2:56 PM
iothealien.com
I created a little video of one of my latest artworks coming together. This, and a few more will be arriving on my website soon.

As always, I’m celebrating the weirdos, sh!t disturbers and makers of good trouble.💥

#artsky #textileart #mixedmediaart #artcollecting
August 11, 2025 at 1:01 AM
iothealien.com
Studio vibes at night.

#artsky #workinprogress
A work-in-progress rests near a sewing machine in a dark studio lit by the machine’s light. The artwork is a portrait of a man stitched in black cotton thread on canvas. His hair and beard are painted purple and his glasses are pink.
August 8, 2025 at 2:57 AM
iothealien.com
A little video I made of my latest portrait coming together. I love rebellious subjects, particularly women. This one is based on @gayesuakyol.bsky.social

Acrylic & cotton thread on canvas

#textileart #chicagoartist #mixedmediaart
August 8, 2025 at 2:10 AM
iothealien.com
I’m really proud of this painted and stitched portrait. The final size with frame is 13” x 13”. She’ll be coming with me to Talking Threads in Ames, IA opening Saturday 4pm at the Gallery in the Round.

A Normal Venusian, pt 2., 2025
Cotton, acrylic, polyester on wood frame
Woman’s face stitched onto raw canvas. Her hair and cheeks are painted; her cheeks a lively blue-pink, and her hair and clothing aubergine, with red and teal flecks. Closeup of stitched and painted portrait Side angle showing canvas displayed in floater frame
July 30, 2025 at 8:25 PM
iothealien.com
I made this piece on my birthday: a thread portrait of Tina Turner. This one is filled with birthday magic.
Portrait of Tina Turner singing, stitched onto raw canvas painted with orange and green Side view of framed canvas
July 29, 2025 at 12:09 PM
iothealien.com
Sharing a super satisfying part of my process. 👌

This is a heat-erasable ink I use in my thread portraits.

#artsky #fiberart
July 26, 2025 at 11:39 PM
iothealien.com
Working in a couple new thread sketches —here’s one of Shannon from Shannon & the Clams.

#artsky #quiltsky
Portrait of Shanon Shaw stitched in thread
July 26, 2025 at 8:46 PM
iothealien.com
I decided to draw a little bigger today. I normally sketch on an 8” x 8” sketchbook, but I decided to use a sheet of 12” x 16” paper.
Ink drawing on white paper of a disheveled David Bowie in clown makeup and attire, smoking a cigarette with a faraway look in his eye
July 26, 2025 at 12:41 AM
iothealien.com
@mallory-gallery.bsky.social

How’d I do?
Ink drawing of Shannon Shaw (of Shannon and the Clams and other projects)
July 24, 2025 at 7:10 PM
iothealien.com
This idea.
21stcenturyeric.bsky.social Eric Replatformed @21stcenturyeric.bsky.social · Jul 23
An all female Doobie Brothers cover band called the Spliff Sisters...
July 24, 2025 at 12:41 AM
iothealien.com
New thread sketch: the one and only Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth.

Who should I do next? Bonus points for badass women.
Thread sketch of Kim Gordon from Sonic Youth on hand-painted canvas Side view
July 24, 2025 at 12:39 AM
iothealien.com
New work, new solo show

The Magician debuts at my new solo show, Talking Threads, at the Gallery in the Round in Ames, IA. Opening night is Aug 2, 4-6pm

My subject is the avant garde artist, Björk. My goal was to capture the playful, enigmatic spirit of one of the most singular artists of our time
Quilted portrait of the artist Björk. She is portrayed in tones of yellow-green and purple, with her hands areas by her face in a playful manner. 3D triangles emanate from her fingers Close up of the eyes, highlighting the stitching Close up of background and a 3D stacked triangle
July 22, 2025 at 1:18 AM
iothealien.com
Stitched portrait of Mark Mothersbaugh from Devo.
Black thread portrait of man in glasses holding a microphone and wearing a pyramid hat. The portrait is stitched onto canvas, painted with a yellow triangle.
July 20, 2025 at 8:00 PM
iothealien.com
Excited to announce that I will be a guest on Quilting Arts TV, hitting PBS stations this Fall. We shot 3 segments this morning, and I can’t wait to share my tricks with you!

#quiltsky
Sarah and Susan Brubaker Knapp, host of QA TV, standing on set Sarah with the producer and director on set, going over the flow of a segment Sarah and Susan filming, with camera gear all around them Four of Sarah’s pieces on the QA TV set
July 15, 2025 at 8:53 PM
iothealien.com
Week 2 of drawings of lips —now with teeth! These are a few studies of Marilyn Monroe’s lips. It’s fun to draw people wearing makeup. 😛
Graphite and charcoal drawings of Marilyn Monroe’s lips from different angles
June 30, 2025 at 5:59 PM
iothealien.com
Some studies of lips I did for my facial feature drawing class. I’m normally too lazy to bring out my easel, but seeing the difference it makes will have me prioritize it in the future.
Graphite drawings of lips at different angles
June 22, 2025 at 6:40 PM
iothealien.com
Just shipped these off for photography and inclusion in a little tv show I’ll be featured in next Fall. Stay tuned for more details! These are all fabric, no paint!

#textileart #artsky #quiltsky
Textile portrait on canvas of a pink unenthused cat against a deep yellow background Textile portrait on canvas of a purple German Shepherd Dog against a yellow background Textile portrait on canvas of a green hand giving “rock on” fingers, against a black background Portrait quilt of John Brown done all in reds
June 20, 2025 at 4:47 PM
iothealien.com
I’ve got so much new stuff coming your way. I can’t wait to share what I’m doing this July. 🤘#quiltsky #artsky
Quilted green hand giving rock on fingers, with purple nails against a black backdrop. Side view of rock on hand, showing a purple border around a canvas frame, and details of harlequin stitching in the background
June 18, 2025 at 6:29 PM
iothealien.com
It’s the moment you’ve all been waiting for: drawings of a pierced nose at three different angles.
Graphite and chalk drawing of a nose at three different angles
June 5, 2025 at 9:53 PM
iothealien.com
Just put the finishing touches on the latest in my Textile Sketch series. Made from cotton, silk, and bamboo mounted onto a wood frame, he measures 18” x 18” x 1.5”.

Textile Sketch #6: Robert Smith

#thecure #artsky
Textile portrait of Robert Smith from the Cure. Made from pieced cotton fabric and lots and lots of stitching, mounted onto a wood frame. Side view Detail shot showing lots of stitching and small signature in the corner
May 29, 2025 at 4:16 PM