WorkArt & Culture

Artist embroiders delicate sculptures that mimic elements of nature

Australian visual artist Meredith Woolnough creates elegant embroidered sculptures that capture the delicate beauty of nature in knotted threads. Through a delicate system of tiny stitches she creates intricate and complex openwork compositions that are then carefully pinned in shadowboxes, just like preserved specimens.

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All images courtesy of the artist.

All images courtesy of the artist.

The work maps the frameworks of the various veining systems found in nature to create work that explores the balance, harmony and connectivity of life on Earth. Inspired by the patterns, structures and shapes found in plants, coral, cells and shells Meredith's embroideries represent both the robust beauty and elegant fragility of life.

Meredith is an internationally acclaimed, award-winning artist from Newcastle, Australia. Her work is held in public, private and corporate collections worldwide. Discover more at www.meredithwoolnough.com.

Delicate orange embroidered ginkgo leaves and branching stems arranged in an intricate openwork composition against a white background
Red embroidered sculpture resembling coral or a veining system, with branching organic forms creating an intricate openwork pattern against a white background
Embroidery hoop with red thread stitched in intricate branching vein-like patterns radiating from the centre, with an embroidery machine foot visible above
Meredith Woolnough's embroidered sculpture with intricate knotted thread forming organic vein-like patterns in rust-red on white background, displayed as an openwork composition
Meredith Woolnough's embroidered sculpture of an organic spiral form filled with intricate knotted threadwork resembling natural veining patterns mounted on a white wall
Orange embroidered leaf with intricate veining pattern displayed against a cream background, created by Meredith Woolnough
Orange embroidered ginkgo leaf with radiating veins on a cream background, created by Meredith Woolnough
Four embroidered textile sculptures by Meredith Woolnough depicting natural forms including radiating patterns, organic cellular structures and botanical shapes in red, orange and gold threads
Sewing machine stitching intricate white circular dandelion-like patterns onto blue fabric as part of an embroidered textile work
A woman examines a large circular embroidered sculpture with intricate red thread forming a delicate, intricate openwork pattern reminiscent of natural veining systems
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