18. Frances Trombly

In honor of our Artopia party on Thursday, Cultist proudly presents "100 Creatives," where we feature Miami's cultural superheroes in random order. Have suggestions for future profiles? Email [email protected] with the whos and whys.

18. Frances Trombly

If you've ever been out in Miami during an art walk, it's likely that you've seen Frances Trombly's work. Perhaps, at first you didn't notice it was art at all, but just maybe wondered why the hell there was a pile of crumpled up paper in the corner. Trombly works with fabrics, weaving, embroidering, crocheting and cross-stitching to create objects that will deceive (in a nice way) and definitely will fascinate. Her embroidery work of Publix receipts would fool even the most seasoned grocery shopper. It's hard not to be amazed by the detail and labor that goes into the creation of representations of things we see, use, and throw out everyday.

Trombly was born and raised in Miami where she lives with her husband artist Leyden Rodriguez-Casanova and her young daughter. She co-runs the Design District exhibition space Dimensions Variable, which is used to show one work at a time, giving viewers an intimate and not overwhelming experience with the art.

After receiving her BFA from the Maryland Institute's College of Art, she went on to complete residencies at the Capri Palace and the Vermont Studio Center. She was the only Miami artist mentioned in the New Museum's 2009 Younger Than Jesus directory and was granted the South Florida Cultural Consortium Fellowship for Visual & Media Artists in 2009.

Trombly has had five solo shows since 2006, most recently at the Moore College of Art & Design in Philadelphia and Girls' Club in Ft. Lauderdale, where her exhibition "Paintings" includes what appear to be blank canvases, but are actually handwoven fabrics. Many publications have featured her work, including Art + Auction and Art in America. Though her creations may fool the eye, there's no questioning Trombly's sincerity as an artist and commitment to her family.

1. List five things that inspire you.