Shannon Downey

Shannon Downey is an American crafter and activist. Downey is recognized as a leader in the field of craftivism, using cross-stitching as an activism tool. Downey serves as director of development at Asian American Advancing Justice and is an adjunct professor at DePaul University and Columbia College.

Early life and education

Shannon Downey was born in Weymouth, Massachusetts. Downey's parents were union organizers. Their home was the epicenter of organizing and community activism. As a result, Downey was involved, as a child, in protests, which inspired their activism as an adult. Downey learned how to cross-stitch in the fifth grade.

Downey earned an undergraduate degree in anthropology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a graduate degree in recreation administration from Aurora University.

Career and crafting

Downey worked in digital marketing for ten years. They found a cross-stitch pattern on Etsy of Captain Picard and began cross stitching again. Her cross-stitch for the first Women's March in Chicago went viral after being shared by George Takei.

In 2019, Downey launched Badass Herstory, a public art and digital project. Downey's goal through the project is to collect one million stories of women, female identifying, and gender non-conforming people, all presented in cross-stitch form. The completed quilt was displayed in December 2019 at Women Made Gallery in Chicago. The project, titled "Rita's Quilt", was chosen as one of the "top feel good stories" by The Guardian for 2019.

Downey finds inspiration in the work of Pearl Dick, Judy Chicago, Matthew Hoffman, Natalie Boyett, Shawn Smith and Francine Turk.

Personal life

Downey lives in Chicago, Illinois.