"Girlhood" in the making

Hi all!

I’d like start my new blog by sharing my latest project to date. Here is “Girlhood”, my first, of many, installations. This project is so dear to my heart. Over 3 months in the making, resulted in the most special reception, new friends, and exciting opportunities!

Everything you see here was handmade, the pillows, tablecloth, placemats, dishware, the zine, chandelier, garland, charms, candelabra, the table, and even the canopy frame!

Aubrey Crilly Tizol holding her first soft sculpture in front of her mixed media installation, Girlhood, Nov. 18th, 2026.

I’ve been wanting to try my hand in mixed media for quite a while and now that I have, there is no going back. Halfway through this project I was stumped, wondering how I should paint on this pottery to really tie the piece together. I decided to slow down, take my time, because I wanted to do it right. That’s when I asked my mom, “Will you teach me how to sew?”. I presented her with the ‘CaterPillow’ project. This would be my second sewing project to date, following a small zipper pouch I made at a Pioneer Library class a while back.

My mom was over the moon, enthusiast to teach me to sew like her grandmother had done with her, but she assured me that I was really gonna do it all! We got to work, pretty much every evening we both had free, we’d be in her sewing room with my dad watching AGT.

After the CaterPillow I knew exactly which direction I’d be going in with the dishware. I began replicating the fabric patterns on my ceramics with these nice, soft, pastel underglazes. Each one of the pieces took 3 coats of paint and 3 kiln firings to finish, but boy was I excited to wake up every day and get to work in my pretty little home studio that my dad for built me!

Once I conquered the milestone of surface design I was ON A ROLL! Next came the charms, the ladybug, the placemats & pillows, the garland, candelabra, and finally the chandelier. And let me tell you, it was not easy, but I had a blast and the ideas just kept flowing.

Days before the opening I had the bright idea to make a zine, “baby’s first zine” and I think it sent the whole show over the top. The reception came and I only printed 30, I totally should have made more, now I know! Guests were reading them, following the prompts, joining me at the table to chat, and taking the fun little memento home with them. It was a blast, I met so many new people, chatted with fellow artists, connected with art lovers, and heard some great stories.

I loved it all, making it, getting to spend time with my fellow artists and family in the creation process, the feedback and critiques, and all the connections I was able to make because of this piece and I can’t wait to do more. I’m already sketching out the next installation!

Artist statement:

At its core, this work is an expression of gratitude: for the opportunity to discover femininity in my own time, to embrace it, and to share it with others who might still be longing for it.

Here I explore the idea of girlhood as something newly discovered rather than something lost. Growing up a “tomboy”, expressing my femininity wasn’t something that I ever truly felt comfortable doing. It wasn’t until adulthood that I began to encounter spaces filled with strong, deafening feminine energy—and those moments have been transformative. Experiencing this later in life has given me a deeper appreciation for my own femininity and a longing for more.

This installation invites viewers into a space that captures the feeling I grew up chasing, thinking it was so mythical and out of reach. It is a celebration girlhood in all its forms.

Thanks for reading!

-Aubrey <3