About
Emily Jo Gibbs is a British Artist who over the last three decades has established an international reputation for her delicate textiles. In her current practice Emily creates hand-stitched Portraits and Still Lifes with a graphic quality, observing the quiet beauty of the overlooked. Gently advocating The Value of Making by creating work that celebrates the skill, dexterity and the creative problem solving of people who make things.
“I’m interested in the idea that by taking the time to slowly describe someone in stitch, you convey your admiration. Celebrating people who make things by the investment of time in making the work is a quiet, thoughtful act of care and value”.
Currently Artist in Residence at Trinity Buoy Wharf, Emily is making a 5m-long appliqué which features many of the people who work at the Wharf and are Makers. Previous projects include.
The Value of Making, Collect Open 2018, Seven portraits of contemporary makers through the tools that they use.
Connected Cloth, The British Textile Biennial 2021, Portrait of a Chinese textile worker making the silk organza I use.
The Boat Builders with St Barbes Museum 2022, a series of six portraits of Apprentices and Foremen at Berthon Boat yard.
Emily is a member of the Artworkers Guild, The 62 Group of Textile Artists and Contemporary Applied Arts. Her work is in the collections of The Victoria and Albert Museum, The Crafts Council Collection and The Museum of Fine Art, Houston.
