Past Exhibitions

Click here Events to view other exhibitions of interest.

Redefining the Basket curated by Lissa-Jane de Sailles
7 September - 4 October 2023


What is a basket and how does basket making bridge traditional and contemporary art?

Traditionally baskets have been viewed as utilitarian objects yet, many contemporary artists have been employing or are returning to traditional basketry techniques to explore their art practices.

This exhibition brings together an eclectic group of artists to show the diverse ways that basket making has been redefined through innovative use of techniques, materials, images and meanings.

Ten artists from the USA and ten from Australia have each chosen a piece or pieces from existing bodies of work or have created new works in response to the theme: 'Redefining the Basket'.

Exhibition curator Lissa-Jane de Sailles is a fibre artist who specialises in traditional and contemporary basketry. Her interests include the history of contemporary fibre art in Australia and the USA, as well as teaching, travelling and making in her studio on Jerrinja and Wandi Wandian Land on the South East Coast of NSW.

Lissa-Jane joined the American National Basketry Organization (NBO) in 2015, and in June 2023 was the first international instructor to be included in their conference workshop programme.

The opening event will take place on Saturday, 9 September 2023, 4pm-5.30pm.

Pictured: Three Clowns by Phu La.

Evoke by Cheryl Kennedy
7 September - 4 October 2023

Cheryl Kennedy has created a multi-disciplinary body of work, reflecting her deep connection to Victorian farming country. Her history includes a long line of hard-working, powerful women, who shared their time, skills and stories.

The materials once used and processes once learned, are no longer employed in the production of the practical and functional but have been repurposed into an evocative new context.
Cheryl Kennedy is an assemblage artist based in the rural town of Castlemaine, Central Victoria. Her creative practice explores wire, textiles and collaborative installations. This creativity was triggered by her return to the countryside of her youth, after more than four decades of city living.

Australian Fibre Art Awards
5 August - 3 September 2023

The Australian Fibre Art Award (AFAA) showcases the incredible talent of fibre artists from across Australia. First held in 2021, this biennial competition offers a non-acquisitive prize of $2,000. Contemporary artists are invited to submit recent, unseen works made of any fibre-related media, with an expert panel assessing criteria including creativity and technical execution.

AFAA is organised by independent publishing company ArtWear Publications Pty Ltd, producer of quality magazines for the textile and fibre arts, and more recently vintage lovers as well. The Embroiderers Guild NSW is proud to sponsor AFFA and nurture talented fibre artists from across the nation.

The exhibition of AFAA 2023 finalists will be held at host venue Gallery76, with the winner announced at the opening event on Saturday, 5 August.

Click here for more information on the Awards. Attendance is free; bookings essential. Click here to book

Thrifty by Julie Paterson
28 June - 2 August 2023

We have a huge month planned with the incredible Julie Paterson - painter, printmaker, designer of textiles and brand-new potter. Find her on Instagram @ClothJulie.

Exhibition
Thrifty is an exhibition by artist and textile designer Julie Paterson, focussing on the beauty of visible mending, the joy of repair and the spirit of creative community. Using scraps from her own ClothFabric designs and other pieces that hold significance, Julie s new work will showcase salvaged and mended furnishings and artworks that enrich homes with personal histories.

Thrift - it s not a making-do that we grit our teeth for in tough times. Thrift is about care, economy and empowerment. Thrift slows us down and manages resources for a more sustainable life. Being thrifty is how we can thrive as individuals and communities.

Residency
Julie will be in residence during her exhibition, creating a large-scale collaborative artwork with locals, using plants they have grown or foraged in their neighbourhood.

Entitled Community Garden, this hand-printed and slow-stitched artwork will celebrate the nurturing power of working together creatively to make beneficial change.

Teen Workshop - Alter Ego fabric printing
Join us in the July school holidays for a playful printmaking workshop where you create a multi-layered and colourful version of the other you a portrait that s better than any selfie!

Tuesday, 11 July, 10.30am - 3.30pm
Prices from $135. Creative Kids Vouchers accepted.
Click here for more information / bookings.

In Conversation by Tara Glastonbury and quilt artists
27 May - 25 June 2023

Social media gives artists the ability to access ideas, opportunities and peers in a direct and immediate way leading to connections and collaborations that would not have been possible in the past.

For many, the online community has led to discovering a whole new genre of art-making and large groups of people with shared textile interests a revelation for those who have worked in isolation.

To explore this concept further Tara Glastonbury invited a group of Australian artists to engage in a quilt dialog with an international artist they first connected with online. Each pair then developed an approach in conversation exchanging materials, celebrating a shared love, building on similarities in style, or meeting in person to create together.

This exhibition is the result of these conversations and sees some of the biggest names in modern quilting exhibiting here for the first time, alongside their Australian counterparts.

Pictured: Magic in Melbourne by Irene Roderick.
Events Program

Artist & Curator Talk
Saturday, 27 May 2023
3pm-3.45pm
Tickets from $20

Opening Event
Saturday, 27 May 2023
4pm-5.30pm
Free (bookings essential)

Click here for tickets

Bread for all and roses too by Henrietta Cheshire
4 - 25 May 2023
Thread artist Henrietta Cheshire travels through time to rescue stories of forgotten women and tell them in stitch. In her first solo exhibition, Bread for all and roses too, she explores the treatment of women in the workplace, with particular focus on the Victorian era. Henrietta is currently studying with the Royal School of Needlework and her art has been exhibited at the Greve Museum, Denmark, the Museum of Sydney and the MCA, Sydney.

Pictured: Uterus slipper (framed version) by Henrietta Cheshire.

Sojourn by Nonie Sutcliffe
6 - 24 May 2023

This series was created by Victoria textile and mixed media artist Nonie Sutcliffe as COVID-19 lockdowns rolled on. Her sense of a solitary place in this time was inspired by her dwarf Ginkgo tree on the back veranda and the way the leaves shed over autumn with her anticipation that lockdown would be better in the spring. Alas, it lasted well into summer and way beyond! The Ginkgo leaf has become her symbol of strength, hope and peace, and these are depicted in works on vintage and "Boro" cloth from Japan, with waxed quilting threads.

Pictured: Sojourn #8 by Nonie Sutcliffe

TEXStyle 2023

Presented by the Technology Educators Association of NSW

5 March - 28 April 2023

The TEXStyle exhibition is an annual showcase of excellence in HSC Textiles and Design to both the education sector and wider community.

Gallery76 is delighted to host this TEXStyle for a second year. The exhibition features 37 exceptional pieces chosen from nearly 1,400 submitted across NSW, and includes formal gowns, theatrical costumes, home furnishings and more.

Free entry during regular gallery hours (weekdays 9-4 and weekends 10-2).

School Excursions

High schools can book self-guided excursions to TEXStyle 2023. A booklet is provided to help students navigate the exhibition.

Dates: 14th March - 6th April
Time: 3 Sessions per day 9.00am, 11.00am & 1.00pm
Cost: $ 10.00 per student (accompanying teacher is FREE)
Note: Maximum 20 students per session

Click here to book excursions.

Click here to find out more about TEXStyle.

April Holidays Workshop for Teens

As part of our celebration of young talent in the TEXStyle exhibition, we are launching a new series of school holiday workshops just for teens!

In April, learn to embroider flower and leaf patterns to create a gorgeous, personalized tote bag. All materials provided.

Click here for more information or to book.
​

Woven Landscapes by Branching Out Designs

27 January - 28 February 2023

Sisters Jillian Culey and Carolyn Dance creatively interpret the natural world wide vistas through to intricate details - via spectacular woven creations.

Please join us for the opening event on Saturday, 28 January 2023, 4pm-5.30pm. Click here for more information or to book.

Weathering a Life by Barbara Dawson

27 January - 27 February 2023

Barbara explores notions of place and memory through abstract works of textiles, drawings and collograph prints.

Please join us for the opening event on Saturday, 28 January 2023, 4pm-5.30pm. Click here for more information or to book.

Exhibition: 2 December 2022 22 January 2023

The Embroiderers' Guild NSW is a not-for-profit membership body for anyone and everyone who loves to stitch, would love to learn or is just interested in textiles.

Teaching embroidery and textile art at all levels of aspiration, confidence and achievement is core to our mission.

Our Education Program provides a comprehensive offering, including:
- Summer School: An intensive period of classes held each January.

- Workshops: Sessions throughout the year, consisting of a few hours through to a couple of days, which focus on mastering a particular technique.

- Courses: A timetable of regular classes which might last a year or more. These require more commitment, but the creative rewards are big too! These are often held 'live', but many can also be completed by correspondence to suit regional audiences.

We are immensely proud to present this exhibition showcasing pieces produced by students from our Education Program. Some participants are beginners and others have been stitching for many years, but all bring creativity, skill and a willingness to learn something new.

Saturday, 3 December
4pm-5.30pm
Gallery76, 76 Queen St, Concord West, 2138

Free entry, bookings essential. Click here to book.
Sparkling wine will be available for $5 per glass

'Moving Forward'- Design Divas Exhibition

Exhibition: 6-31 October 2022

Design Divas is a group of artists which began the Contemporary Stitch and Design Course with Mary Brown in 2017 and 2019. This exhibition grew out of the idea of 'Moving Forward'. Come along to the exhibition to see how each of us has interpreted this theme - some of us used COVID as the catalyst, others have used the 2019 Bushfires, and yet others have used the concept of the evolution of humanity.

The Roma Field Traditional Embroidery Competition

Exhibition: 6-31 October 2022

The Roma Field Competition is designed to foster the achievement of excellence in traditional embroidery design and technique.

Roma Field was one of the founders of the Embroiderers' Guild NSW and was particularly interested in encouraging traditional embroidery. She was an outstanding embroiderer who was dedicated to encouraging embroiderers to achieve excellent results through learning and developing skills in traditional embroidery.

Roma was President and Chairman of the Guild, and, later a Trustee. She taught traditional embroidery classes and regularly judged competitions, not only for the Guild but also for the Country Women's Association and the Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales.

Much of her embroidery appears in 'A Lifetime of Embroidery' by Roma Field which was prepared and published by the St Ives Group of the Embroiderers' Guild in 1980.

We would like to congratulate: 

       Yvette Stanton (@vettycreations) for winning the Tutor Category for her elegant mask, and; 

       Robyn Haug for winning the General Member Category for her impeccable hardanger mat.  

Thank you to all of the other entrants who invested their time and creativity to produce truly spectacular pieces. Our exhibition showcases the entries in this inaugural year of the Roma Field Competition - on display until October 31.

Future Exhibitions

Threads that Connect Us

​Exhibition: 2-28 November 2022

Engaging in textile crafts with other people has long been essential to the life of many communities. In November, the Embroiderers’ Guild NSW, University of New South Wales Art & Design and the Social Outfit have partnered to deliver 'Threads That Connect Us' to showcase the individual and community benefits of stitching together.

 
This unique program will see a diverse group of refugee and new migrant women gather to stitch, share stories, connect and create as an embroidery community. Gallery76 will be transformed into an inspiring working 'studio'; with the walls adorned with mood boards, thought-provoking artworks and stunning textiles from various cultures. 

We invite you to visit throughout November 2022 to both enjoy the exhibition and witness the progression of the embroideries being created. Additionally, celebrate with us at the Public Showcase event to celebrate the completion of the program on Saturday November 26 from 4 to 5:30pm.  Attendance is free but reserving and booking your place is essential (Book here).

Under Cover by Samantha Tannous
4 May- 1 June 2022

Featuring bright, textural works which layer colourful metaphors of conspicuous camouflage from the animal and insect worlds onto the complex female psyche. Works include wall hangings and soft sculptures felted from hand-dyed silk and merino wool.

Rock Pool Wanderings - Exploration of Identity by Julya Hegarty
5 May - 2 June 2022

Julya Hegarty has used the landscapes surrounding her Sunshine Coast home to consider beach life and its link to Australian character. Her Rock Pool Wanderings - Exploration of Identity features stunning wall pieces and sculptural Raffia textiles. 

Heirloom - A Celebration of Herstories by Grace Pundyk
April 2 - May 1 2022

Heirloom: A Celebration of Herstoriesis a celebration of inheritance, of grandmothers, of the ephemeral wild and those invisible threads that move and shape us no matter how seemingly distant and unknown. Taking inspiration from the traditional Polish ‘wianek’ (flower crown), each wearable piece utilises vintage Polish linen Australiana textiles, Japanese linen/ silk threads, and materials from the wild to sustain a matrilineal thread across generations and geographies. 

This exhibition will be opened on Saturday 2 April by the Polish Consular General, Ms Monika Konczyk from 4-5:30pm. You're invited ! Please book and there is a cover charge of $10pp to cover catering.  

Discover Embroidery
Student Open Day Saturday April 9 and Teacher Open Day April 10 2022

For students come and see the exhibition of HSC Major Works, contemplate them and draw on them for inspiration. Our student centric Open Day gives you an opportunity to experiment with some embroidery stitches, some helpful talks, tours and resources. The cost is $8 per student and includes a creative goodie bag. A separate stream for teachers allows everyone to experience what the Guild has to offer and includes morning tea and materials for $12. Teachers in training are especially welcome ! Please register your interest in these programs to avoid disappointment, due to COVID restrictions on numbers pre-registration is essential.

Wild Wool - Australian Felt Art

Friday March 4 to Tuesday March 29 2022

This is a composite exhibition featuring 32 pieces of felt art created by 14 talented artists located across Australia. 

TEXStyle - Showcasing Major Textiles Projects from 2021 HSC
March 8 - 25 2022

The future of textile art is in great hands. We are delighted to showcase for the first time the outstanding artistic endeavours of 40 young, emerging creators and textile artists that had submitted their Major Textiles Projects for the NSW Higher School Certificate. Bookings essential - please set aside 90 minutes to see the exhibition.(Link to portal to book a class excursion) During this exhibition period, the Guild will host a series of Open Days for teachers and students alike. Expect loads of helpful embroidery tips and resources to take home ! Exhibition details

ReCover by Barbara Dawson

January/February 2022

Barbara Dawson's work is 'muted and moody'. Her exhibition explores the recovery after the Australian bush fires. Through the alchemy of ecological contact printing with plants and slow, meditative stitching on recycled cloth the experience of her crossings over this landscape is traced and recalled. 

Rachel Gooden's Pinned with Thread

January/February 2022

​A museum's etymological collection is painstakingly brought to life in thread and accoutrements by regional artist Rachel Gooden @stitch_and_bone. The pieces are beyond incredible. Come and see these exquisitely embellished works. They absolutely need to be enjoyed up close and in person to appreciate the perfection and detail this self-trained artist has achieved. 

Wildflower - works by Jo Steele

January/February 2022

Jo Steele's beautiful contemporary pieces explore the form, colour and beauty of wildflowers. A feast for the eyes and a delight to all lovers of embroidery. Jo's pieces are filled with myriads of layered textural stitches - her detail and the beauty of her work astounds.

Still Life in the Old Girl Yet

New Dates Friday November 5 (5pm virtual opening) to Sunday December 5 2021

A solo exhibition at Gallery 76 by artist Joy Smith.  Joy's work is bright and features still life depictions of everyday objects. Come and examine how Joy has transformed these objects, celebrating them and rendering them in texture and with threads.

Although the gallery is open to the public 7 days a week, we have decided to take the exhibition opening online due to ongoing capacity restrictions.  Join us at 5pm AEST on Friday November 5 for the official opening which includes a virtual tour and a brief address by Joy.  The opening will be hosted over Zoom.  Tickets are free and bookings are essential and can be made here.

February 2021

This past conference is available online to stream or download.
There are 10 Conference lectures + plus bonus tour of Lace Exhibition at Gallery76 to view at your leisure.
Click here for more information and link to purchase.

Gallery76 Instagram     Embroiderers' Guild NSW Instagram     Facebook

Copyright © The Embroiderers' Guild NSW Inc.