Meet the Artist

I am an interdisciplinary artist based in the Philadelphia area, whose art evokes feelings of joy and nostalgia. Over the past nine years, I have been developing my “world of birb”. My birbs and their stories come to life through crocheted soft sculptures, screen prints, knitted tapestries, hand-dyeing techniques, and mixed textile exploration. I believe that bold colors and a touch of whimsy are the key ingredients in my artistic practice. When utilizing them, I can explore all the different parts of myself and understand life in new ways. Outside of the world of birb, I create art that explores my lived experience as a Black person in America.

I blend textile traditions &  African American hair culture into a contemporary fibrous fusion that redefines one’s expectation of the medium. At the end of the day, my inner child is the boss. She is highly curious and likes to experiment. My art adapts to what she imagines.

Raised in Philadelphia, Kalila Jones (born 2001) became enamored by the arts and culture of the city at a young age. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fiber and Material Studies with a concentration in Art Education at Temple University’s Tyler School of Art & Architecture in Philadelphia, PA, in May 2024. Through their practice as a studio artist and educator, Jones has explored how to integrate their love of fibers into the legacy of the Philadelphia art scene. She has shown work at various Philadelphia cultural landmarks, including the Philadelphia Museum of Art (July-September 2024), The Fabric Workshop & Museum (August 2024), Taller Puertorriqueno (March-May 2025),

& The Colored Girls Museum (May 2025-February 2026). In January 2026, Jones joined Muse gallery in Old City.