Cynthia Kirkland

Cynthia Kirkland, known professionally as Athel Artistry, is a master-level fabricator whose career bridges high-performance textiles and fantasy craftsmanship. She began as a stitcher for Disney Parks worldwide and went on to design for the award-winning Marvel fashion line in partnership with Her Universe and Hot Topic. Now a textile engineer contributing to NASA missions, Cynthia brings technical excellence and creative flair to every project. A seasoned competitive cosplayer since 2003, her costumes have graced stages from San Diego Comic-Con to RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Stars. At conventions, she leads precision-focused workshops on couture sewing, digital patterning, and translating costume skills into future-facing tech.