Erynne Byrd-Quigtar on Art, Motherhood and the Meaning of Home
For this installment of Rhythm of Home, we stepped into the studio of Seattle-based artist and mother Erynne Byrd-Quigtar – the creative space where her collage and digital work comes to life outside the walls of home and where her current curated exhibition, Melancholy Masqerade, lives.
A collage and digital artist whose work unfolds in layers, much like the life she's built alongside her children, Erynne has learned to let her art breathe in the in-between spaces of parenthood. For her, home isn't about perfection. It's about safety, imagination, and the quiet permission to be exactly who you are.
In this installment of Rhythm of Home, Erynne opens up with us about raising creative children in a house full of mess and magic, the photograph of her late father that still feels like a compass, and why she believes every artist – particularly those who are parents – need both a home that grounds them as well as a community that fills them back up. Her story is a reminder that the most soulful homes aren't curated for show; they're lived in, loved in, and built one honest layer at a time.
Photography | Alejandro Sanchez Ochoa
What does the ‘Rhythm of Home’ mean to you, and how does it show up in your Space?
Rhythm of home is creating a place where my children know they are safe to be exactly who they are. I want our home to be a place where they are free to play, make messes, ask questions, imagine new worlds and know they are loved through all of it. Their sense of security is something I intentionally nurture because I believe creativity flourishes when we feel safe enough to be curious.
Our home is also where I make my art. Like many artist-parents, I’ve learned to create alongside the rhythm of family life. That reality has shaped my practice – drawing me toward digital art and collage mediums that allow me to pause, return and build in layers while still being present with my children.
My artwork lives throughout our home as an invitation to create together, reminding my children that creativity isn’t something reserved for special occasions but something we can live daily, At the same time, I’ve come to appreciate that I also need spaces beyond my home that nurture my own creativity. Our recent shoot at Common Objects is an example of this. It’s a place that feels like a creative hug for artists, writers and makers. It’s a reminder that while my home is where I pour into my family, it’s equally important to intentionally seek out spaces that pour back into me. Having both a home that grounds me and a creative community that inspires me allows me to return to my family and my work with greater presence and joy.
Tell us about a piece of art, object, or heirloom in your home that carries a story. Why does it matter to you?
One of the most meaningful objects in my home is a photograph of my father. He passed away shortly after my first son was born and just before I got married, which were two of the most significant moments of my life. While he wasn’t here to witness those milestone events, I’ve never felt like he’s truly gone. Whenever something beautiful happens in my life, I find myself thinking of him. I carry this quiet thought that shows how he’s still cheering me on, working on my behalf in ways that I can’t explain. His photo serves as more than a memory, it’s reminder of connection and gives me more reason to continue in the direction of my dreams.
How has your cultural background, community, or lived experience shaped your sense of home?
My sense of home is deeply rooted in my Black heritage and the family that shaped me. From an early age my mother recognized that I experienced the world differently and that I was deeply creative. She made sure our home was a place where I felt safe to express myself. She enrolled me in art classes, exposed me to creative spaces and encouraged me to see my imagination as a gift rather than something to outgrow. A lot of the way I live my life now and the way my home and artwork are set up lean into that exchange of playfulness and creativity.
When you think about the space you’re creating, what feelings or energy do you want it to hold?
I want the space I create both for my family and for my work to feel like a refuge. My home is where I parent, create dreams and begin new ideas. At the same time, I’ve learned how important it is to intentionally seek out creative spaces outside my home – [spaces like] Common Objects that refill my own creative cup. Having both reminds met that caring for myself as an artist allows me to show up more fully for my family. I hope the energy in my home is one of peace and belonging.
What advice would you give to someone building a home that reflects who they are?
Build a home that tells the truth about your life, not one that looks perfect. Fill it with the things that remind you of who you are and where you come from. Leave room for your children to be children, for your creativity to evolve and for yourself to grow alongside them. The most meaningful homes aren’t curated but lived in. They’re places where everyone feels safe enough to belong.
About Erynne
Erynne Byrd-Quigtar is a Seattle-based fine and digital artist whose collage work celebrates the richness, resilience, and joy of Black identity. Working in vibrant color and layered texture, she creates pieces that speak to the depth and complexity of Black culture – visual love letters to a community she calls home. Erynne lives and creates alongside her family, weaving art into the everyday rhythm of parenthood and finding inspiration in both her home and the wider creative community that surrounds her.