STITCHED STORIES: TILLEKE SCHWARZ

Image: New Potatoes, detail (2011). 68 x 70cm. All works are hand embroidered on fine linen. All images courtesy Tilleke Schwarz.

Stitched Stories is a solo show of recent work of textile artist Tilleke Schwarz who is internationally known for her fine embroidery on linen. Read on to find out more about the exhibition and Tilleke's work from the artist herself. 

I was born in 1946 and live near Delft with my husband and a beautiful British Shorthair male cat. I learned embroidery from my mother and I was also trained in painting and drawing at the Art Academy (the AKI in Enschede and the Free Academy in The Hague).

Image: All Lives Matter, detail (2021).

I collect images and texts that surprise, surprise or move me and use them later in my work. This result in a subtle comment on our modern society . Everything can serve as inspiration: the newspaper, the internet or even shopping notes. Unlike most, I don't plan my work in advance. As I go along I add pictures and texts. Common elements include cats, flowers, traditional sampler motifs, and children's drawings. I hardly have to come up with anything: “Reality is often stranger than what I can think of”. The sense of humor is typical of my jewish background: a mix of laughter and tears.

Image: Feathers, detail (2018).

My style is often compared to graffiti, but also seen as a contemporary sampler. The work has a narrative character, but does not contain a complete and clear storyline. The viewer is allowed to do his or her own research and to combine the images and texts to give them their own meaning. In this way the work turns into a game between the viewer and me.

Image: Scratch, detail with cat (2012).

I like to embroider on fine linen, usually in my favorite technique of couching (a kind of drawing and writing with a needle). Sometimes the linen is pre-dyed. I can draw from a beautiful thread collection of about 3000 colors in cotton, silk and also synthetics. Occasionally I add bits of fabric or lace. All my work is embroidered by hand. And yes, that takes a bit of time.

Image: All Lives Matter, detail (2021).

I have been active internationally for many years. The work has been published in many professional journals and books. In addition, two books have been published. Occasionally I give workshops and lectures about my work.

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Stitched Stories is at the High Five gallery in Baarle Nassau in the Netherlands, from March 6 till the end of April 2022. Find out more on the High Five Gallery website.

Explore more about Tilleke Schwarz's work on Instagram @TillekeSchwarz or by visiting her website: www.tillekeschwarz.com