Ceil Golightly

Ceil Golightly, a native of Orlando, Florida, was educated as a Registered Nurse at Presbyterian Hospital in Charlotte, N. C. and has a Master’s Degree in Public Health from the University of Minnesota.

Her love for interior design was fostered while living in the home of a Danish architect during her teenage years in Copenhagen, Denmark. When she plans a piece, she uses a system of expanding Relationships known as the Fibonacci series. This numerical series is used by architects because it reveals the secret of nature’s structural design.

Although Golightly sounds Native American, it is English in origin. Ceil’s husband’s forefathers were given a land grant in South Carolina by the king of England in 1715. After the death of her husband, Hugh, Ceil sought a creative outlet “to fill up an empty space.” She was introduced to weaving at the John C. Campbell Folk School. After taking several classes, she was inspired by Sandy Webster, who wrote the criteria for basketry for the Smithsonian Institute. Later, she studied under world famous textile designer, Bhatik Zeik at Penland School of Craft.

Ceil knew when she sat down at the loom for the first time that warp would become her palate for fiber art. Her inspiration comes from natural elements in the Appalachian Mountains. “I wanted to develop my own style and have done so by using a combination of rag rug, basketry, and tapestry techniques in my design. I often incorporate a laurel branch or other natural elements into a weaving.”

“When I weave, I feel connected to my ancestors who settled in Nebraska and live in sod houses. These pioneer women wove covers for horse hair mattresses using the same type loom that I use. Perhaps, that is why I love the primitive simplicity of rag rug technique so much. The only difference is that I use fine quilting cotton and not torn up clothing when weaving.” Ceil does custom designed pieces for client’s homes thereby coordinating color and texture to an individual’s preference. Customized pieces can be arranged through the Abreu Fine Art Gallery.



Name of Artwork NEW by Ceil Golightly Hand Woven Art 100% Wool 30" Long	Cartecay River by Ceil Golightly Hand Woven Art 100% Wool 40" Long	Name of Artwork by Ceil Golightly Hand Woven Art 100% Wool 30" Long

Woodland Wedding by Ceil Golightly Wood and Silk	Time by Ceil Golightly Wood and Silk 24" X 30"	Autumn by Ceil Golightly Wood and Silk 18" X 40"