COSMOS
Mixed Media and Embroidery Embellishment Exhibition
A supernova of colour and texture with a balance of chaos versus harmony. Cosmos explores mixed media contemporary embroidery and embellishment.
Each artwork encourages curiosity, allowing the viewer to navigate each piece. Artists Jessica Grady and Elnaz Yazdani both utilise sustainable materials within their textiles. Mixing recycled and industrial scrap finds with more traditional hand stitching. The result is an explosion of tactility and pattern, with reflections of galaxies, and solar systems outside of this universe. The work shown is full of joy and playfulness. Jessica adds intricacy to her designs with minute details that draw you in. Elnaz uses dense clusters of embellishments and structure.
Artist statement - Jessica Grady
Jessica Grady is an award winning embroidery artist, tutor and author from Pontefract, West Yorkshire. Her work is a colourful and creative exploration of hand stitch and mixed media, and she utilises waste and recycled materials, which are transformed into exciting embellishments. She creates intricate 3D sculptures and wall art. Jessica’s work has been exhibited in the UK, Europe and Asia, and she shares her skills across the UK and beyond through workshops, community installations and lectures. Her first book - Stitched Mixed Media was published in 2023.
Instagram: @jessica_rosestitch
Artist Statement – Elnaz Yazdani
Elnaz Yazdani
Elnaz Yazdani is an embroidery artist and educator based in Yorkshire. Elnaz is dedicated to sharing her textile skills and promoting the importance of embroidery as an art form for the future and for community wellbeing.
Elnaz has taught embroidery throughout her community, within primary, secondary and higher education as well as community groups and organisations.
In 2020 Elnaz was commended for the teaching excellence award in embroidery via the Embroiderers Guild and became an Embroiderers Guild Scholar after the successful launch of her virtual embroidery school ‘Embroider Your Future’.
Her practice explores ways of transforming traditional embroidery techniques through her choice of unusual materials; she is inspired by industrial, upcycled materials and the ways in which she can embellish, connect or transform these items through stitch to develop a surface or form. Her unique embroidery style has allowed her to work across fashion, jewellery and installation contexts since graduating from Manchester School of Art in 2014.
Elnaz is available for workshops, talks, embroidery and jewellery commissions, exhibitions and collaborative projects.
Website: Elnazyazdani.com
Instagram: @elnazyazdani
