Welcome to Textile Curator

Welcome to Textile Curator. If you’re reading this you hopefully have some interest in textiles, whether you are a collector, student or simply someone who enjoys sewing and creating.

This website evolved after I was struggling to find some yarn and I was trying to find out about textile exhibitions.  There are very few websites devoted to quality textile art so I started Textile Curator.

Each four to six weeks there will be an online exhibition of three talented textile artists from all disciplines as well as an in depth interview to discover their motivations and techniques. Along side this is a regularly updated directory of resources and book reviews are coming soon.

 

              

Our first exhibition features the beautiful work of Louise Gardiner. One of the most high profile artists today she has an enviable c.v that includes work in the Collect exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery and decorating Liberty of London’s window.

Her latest work is The Lighthouse of Liberty Love.  A large linen quilt with embroidery, paint and appliqué. 2015. 230cms x 175cms. It was commissioned by Liberty and had to be completed in an awe inspiring 20 days. It is on display in their haberdashery department until 2016.

 

I first became aware of Sara Impey‘s work when I saw it at the Shipley Gallery in Gateshead in the UK. Her impeccable quilts have stitched words that address relevant topics of today and one of her newest pieces ‘Identity Crisis’ contains a list of passwords and lists that she usually keeps secret. “I wanted to create a sense of life unravelling by wrapping the quilted ‘tape’ around a giant spool,” she explains.

It also challenges the conventional idea of what a quilt is, yet as it is three layers of fabric held together with stitch the almost 8 m long finished piece is indeed a quilt.

 

Marie-Thumette Brichard is the third featured artist this month. While she usually specialised in tapestry as you can see on her gallery page she also diversifies such as this weaving from a series called ‘Transparancies’  that incorporates old nets, lames, fishing yarns and synthetic and metallic threads.  The interplay of light on the textured hanging contrasts with her flatly woven tapestries and proves what a versatile artist she is.