Robin Crawford

Robin Crawford is a Buffalo-based fiber artist with a background in social work and youth counseling. Born and raised in Buffalo, she developed an interest in artistic expression from a young age, which she explored through fashion design and sewing. As a student she became an active member in her community, teaching sewing classes, modeling workshops, and dance classes. She also received several awards and honors for her sewing and designs.

With the support of scholarships from several Buffalo organizations, Crawford enrolled in the Art Institute of Pittsburgh in 1984, where she received her Associate's degree. Continuing her community outreach work through Christian Ministry, Crawford was selected for several honors for her artistry and community work, including being named one of the “Outstanding Young Women of America” in 1984, 1986, 1987, and 1988. After graduating from the Art Institute, Crawford joined the Coalition for Christian Outreach, where she served in ministry to youth, college students, and adults, and provided outreach internationally for eight years.

Crawford returned to school at Carlow University, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in 2001. That same year, she received a grant to exhibit her quilt work along with other fiber artists at the Kingsley Association Selma Gallery. She has also exhibited at other venues throughout the Pittsburgh region. In 2003, her quilts were included in the Bold Improvisation: 120 Years of African American Quilts  exhibition at the Senator John Heinz History Center. She was also one of 20 selected quilters for the complementary exhibition African American Quilters and Preservers of Western Pennsylvania  that same year. Crawford’s work was also recognized by her alma mater; she completed commissioned works for school officials, assisted with the creation of the Carlow University Legacy Hall Quilt, and was invited back as a guest speaker for the Women and Art class in 2002 and 2003.

Crawford has continued being an advocate for the African American community and the preservation of African American artistic history. In 2005 she was awarded the NAACP Annual Human Rights Banquet Award for her efforts. In 2018, Crawford’s work as an after-school art teacher was featured in the publication Art for Children Experiencing Psychological Trauma: A Guide for Art Educators and School-Based Professionals.