Made in the Middle: Craft in the Midlands
Made in the Middle returns in 2025 for its ninth edition, showcasing 37 contemporary craft artists from the East and West Midlands. Launched at Leicester Gallery, De Montfort University on 25 January, the exhibition will tour the region until 11 April 2026. Curated by Craftspace, it highlights the diverse talents shaping the Midlands' creative landscape.
Featuring embroidery, textiles, ceramics, jewellery, and bio-materials, the exhibition reflects the region’s evolving craft scene. Guest Curator Jazz Swali has also invited six artists to explore how global migration influences contemporary craft, emphasising the power of cultural exchange.
At a time when mass production dominates and the textile industry faces environmental scrutiny, Made in the Middle champions sustainability, repair, and slow fashion. With pieces available for purchase, it offers a rare chance to support local makers and invest in handcrafted works.
As the exhibition tours, it continues to elevate regional artists and invite the public to engage meaningfully with craft. Here’s a look at some of the textile artists involved
Jade Webb - Leicester
Jade explores biodiversity and neurodivergence through sustainable weaving with linen, nettle, wool, and hemp. Embracing weaving’s meditative nature, her Made in the Middle pieces incorporate ‘mistakes,’ revealing insights into her mind. Her work blends sustainability, texture, and personal expression.
Karina Thompson - Birmingham
Karina creates large-scale Art Quilts, merging machine quilting with digital embroidery on Yuzen fabrics. Her Recovery Quilts series, inspired by her mental health journey, uses obscured messages to explore anger and grief, contrasting vibrant florals with hidden meanings.
karinathompson.co.uk | @karinaworld2
(...)
Want to read more of this article?
We are proud to be a subscriber-funded publication with members in 185 countries. We know our readership is passionate about textiles, so we invite you to help us preserve and promote the stories, memories, and histories that fabric holds. Your support allows us to publish our magazine, and also ‘what's on’ information, and subscription interviews, reviews, and long-read articles in our online blog.
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER? CLICK HERE TO ACCESS CONTENT
OR...to continue reading….
Magazine subscribers automatically get free access to all our online content. We send the access code by email with the publication of each issue. You will also find it on the envelope containing your magazine. Please note the access code changes every issue.
-
Image Credits:
Lead Image: Jade Webb
All images courtesy of Craftspace and the artists.