Annie Taylor Kent, United Kingdom
Maker of large soft sculptures with stories to tell. I create 2D and 3D illustrative and textile narrative based work from the realm of the fairy tale and childhood memory.
Illustrative textile work and stitched stories: I create embroideries and soft sculptures that whisper their tales to me.
Made from calico or old bed linen, and often stuffed with recycled duvets; my soft sculptures are dyed with tea for age and painted with watercolour for softness, finished with embroidered details. Old familiar stories come out of the end of the needle altered, and generally rather Grimm. During the working process, I may carry a limb, or a head, around with me, stitching as I listen to live music, visit a friend, sit on the beach. They become part of my life. A companion, talking to me, telling their tale.
Much of the material I use is inherited and donated, and again this governs directions the work takes. As can a song lyric heard on the radio, a phrase caught on the air, or a sycamore seed spinning down to earth.
My recent work has been created from the linen cupboard's of friend's mother-in-laws (with permission I hasten to add) and the vibrant familiar M&S duvet covers of the 1970s live again.
I am the co-founder of the Profanity Embroidery Group, in Whitstable; organise and curate exhibitions and Open House events.
Artwork
Stitched Up By Barclays? a gentle protest, embroidery on calico with watercolour, 2023
Art Dolls at Kathinka's, textile, 2022
Little Red Riding Hood: a series of textile illustrations, using old bedding and fabric scraps, 2021
Dolly, Textile, 2016
Alice in the Bell Jar, Textile, glass, 2014
Duster dressed Cinderella dolls, textile, 2023
Projects and exhibitions
| Details | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Profanity Embroidery Group14/02/2018 — 20/02/2018 Third Group exhibition from the Profanity Embroidery Group, for which I am Co-Founder, Director and Curator. The theme this time was Song Lyrics. Work was based on powerful songs incorporating profanities for emphasis, or misheard lyrics interpreted with humour. A diverse group of about 30 members, formed in August 2014. |
Fishslab Gallery, Whitstable, Kent, UK | Details |
|
Has She Nothing Better To Do16/11/2016 — 22/11/2016 Solo show of my textile and illustrative work. |
Fishslab Gallery, Whitstable, Kent | Details |
|
Herding Cats12/04/2014 — 21/07/2016 Under the name Herding Cats I organised and curated several group shows. Organising artists being rather like trying to herd cats. |
The Pie Factory, Margate and Keam's Yard Studio Gallery, Whitstable, Margate | Details |