Patricia Kelly
“Through freehand embroidery techniques, I create work in which stitched line becomes a form of artistic expression leaning increasingly towards abstraction. My art is inspired by the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi, which finds beauty in imperfection. A deep sense of belonging to a place, where family history intertwines with present lives, is a determining element in my work. I use recycled fabrics and natural dyes, as practised by previous generations, to evoke the layering of connected lives.
I aim to weave a deeply personal narrative of connection to land, the passage of time, and the enduring practices of labour. My work is a meditative exploration of line and shape. It has evolved through the study of line in our organic landscape. Initially captivated by tangled branches silhouetted against the night sky, I find myself drawn to fine, scribbly line, which I explore through free machine stitch. I experiment with repeating lines, finding new ways to express this visual language with layering of transparent materials. My fascination with geometric ground has developed alongside this, which I attribute to our intrinsic need to organize space. Growing up on a farm where tactile, linear labour was daily routine, making hay and cutting turf, I am drawn to the patterns of the land, fields organized by ditches, and their organic order.
My practice is characterized by an organic, flowing approach to materials and techniques, allowing a process of trial and error, where one idea often leads to another. Recent work has moved toward a minimalist, geometric approach, using straight stitch in black thread. I layer and stitch repeatedly to create a pencil-drawing effect. I enjoy creating contrasts in the density of stitching, the line is becoming increasingly fluid and deliberate.
My process is deeply therapeutic. I begin each piece with a sense of urgency to create a continuous line. This act becomes a form of self-expression, like a cathartic,meditative ritual. I evaluate as I work, allowing the piece to evolve in unexpected ways. Sometimes I have an idea of how I want the piece to look, but often it changes as I progress. This fluid approach allows mistakes to be incorporated, rejected pieces often finding new life in later works. I love adding previously worked pieces into new works, because, like the recycled materials, they already carry a history that contributes to the final piece.
Stitching is a way to express the deep, unspoken parts of myself. I see it as a form of therapy, a quiet space where I can process and communicate my personal experience.”
Patricia Kelly attended Ulster University in Belfast, completing a degree in Fine Craft Design in 1986.
Her work has been exhibited at galleries in Cyprus, Paris, Australia, London, Italy and Ireland. She is internationally recognised for her textile art with her work being featured in numerous books and she has also won many awards including:
2025 Commended Award, ‘Unbound,’ Craftni. August Craft exhibition, Belfast
2025 Selected, IATB, Fibre arts Australia, Textile Biennale
2025 Awarded, Solo exhibition, SCD Perujia, Italy
2024, Selected, SOMAS Research Project, University of Cyprus
2021, Solo Exhibition Award, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council
