Red Bank Artist's Flag Design Featured At Rockefeller Center

RED BANK, NJ – Textile designer, author and Red Bank-based artist Jordan Grace Robinson was recently selected out of thousands of applicants to design an original flag to be flown in Rockefeller Center in New York City. Robinson’s flag – a nod to her own New York roots – will be flown Aug. 1 to 16 as part of the Rockefeller Center Flag Project, a new initiative to pay tribute to the city that never sleeps. 180 artists were selected to take part in the project, including Robinson.

The inspiration to enter the contest came from a sustained love for the urban metropolis, as Robinson lived for a year in Manhattan's Hanover Square before relocating to Miami, FL, Jackson, NJ, and finally, Red Bank.

Robinson, a Red Bank-Fair Haven Regional High School alumna, went on to attend nearby Brookdale Community College's fashion merchandising program. However, it was a last-minute decision to opt into an Intro To Fashion Design program that inspired the artist’s knack for creating her own designs.

“It was between that and another class that I had to take before graduating,” said Robinson. “It really opened my eyes because I realized that I loved sewing.”

Alongside the upcoming flag display in New York City, Robinson is currently exhibiting a line of hand-painted and sewn handbags, wallets, and wall art dubbed "Art TuGo: Take Art With You, LLC." The collection is on display at the Oyster Point Gallery in Red Bank until Sept. 20.

Robinson’s wearable creations can also be found at The Local Line in Red Bank, Severedwing in Asbury Park, Oyster Point Gallery in Red Bank and Etsy.

Although Robinson has always been a creator, it was a pandemic-related layoff from a retail position and subsequent mandatory quarantine that led the artist to her winning work-of-art.

(Jordan Grace Robinson)

“I worked in retail for about 10 years doing fashion styling, I’ve always had that background in sales,” said Robinson. “During the pandemic I was like, ‘you know what? My passion really does lie in not just creating art, but combining marketing and eventually I would love to have a storefront and teach textile classes and sell my designs too.’”

Now, the Red Bank local is trying her hand at teaching: Robinson will be leading online textile workshops in August as well as selling the award winning flag design on RedBubble, which can be fashioned into face masks, tee shirts, pillows and more. 50 percent of profits will be donated to New York City-based nonprofits.

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