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This embroidery work evolved from doodles on magazine pictures. In the 90's, after graduating from film school, I was heavily inspired and influenced by graffiti. I photographed the graffiti scene in downtown Toronto for 10+ years and my own creative explorations with stencils, stickers and flyers led to the face doodles. They started with pictures of people from magazines using their face as the canvas and their features guiding the forms.
In 2010, I started using t-shirt iron-ons to put the portraits onto cotton and then I embroidered the designs over the images creating more vibrant, tactile pieces. My designs and stream of conscious imagery give the traditional folk art of embroidery a modern twist. I've taken my vision from the streets into the home by combining textiles with photography to create these unique pieces. I love colours and patterns, but there is also meaning infused in the lines, shapes and elements adorning these portraits like secrets hidden in plain sight. Sometimes I recognize things from my own life and experience woven into the design but I try to let the lines and shapes of the faces become what they will. By embellishing these faces I want to show people the beauty and depth in all of us; the magic that transcends culture and time. |
