Pacifica Artist Spreads Her Wings at World-Renowned Bay Area Museum

The work of a Pacifica artist with a compelling personal biography was displayed in a world-renowned venue on Friday.

Gabriela Segovia-McGahan, who designs and creates custom fashions, was among the featured artists showcased in the San Francisco’s de Young Museum’s Indigenous Couture exhibit highlighting the influence of Native American culture on contemporary designs.

Segovia-McGahan, a self-described “textile sculptor,” had two “butterfly” skirts showcased at the one-day exhibit.

Nicknamed the “activist couturier” by locals in Pacifica, Segovia-McGahan was raised amid impoverished circumstances that included periods of homelessness that she says fueled her imaginative spirit and a burning passion to innovate.

She is known in Bay Area theatrical circles for her work tailoring and consulting with performance arts groups.

Segovia-McGahan’s hand-cut and hand-stitched butterfly skirts displayed at the de Young were based on original design patterns blending Native American and traditional Victorian designs.

The Monarch butterfly skirt was created with black and orange hues and accented with traditional Native American medallions and shell beads. 

The California Blue butterfly was created with the colors of blue and black using a similar technique with shell circle accents.

Each skirt was graced with an organza "chrysalis" reminiscent of 18th and 19th Century Western European fashion.

"In creating these pieces, I looked closely at the balance found in nature and specifically, on the wings of a butterfly,” Segovia-McGahan said. “What is interesting about most butterflies is the variety of color and contrast."

Her hand-stitched works displayed at the de Young exhibit will be featured in an upcoming educational book, Segovia-McGahan said.

“It was fun to be a part of a collaborative project of featured and emerging artists,” Segovia-McGahan said. “Collaborative projects are fun because it gives you an opportunity to work with other artists and see how they manage their creative process.  Working solo you are in your own, isolated bubble.”

Native American artist and designer Eddie Madril was the exhibit’s curator.

"One of the great things about collaborating on this project was that Eddie gave me plenty of creative license to express my style within the context of his vision," Segovia-McGahan said

"Eddie's artistic direction provided the essence of each piece, which gave me a creative path to develop the Butterflies fully."

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