“Skies have a way of falling” (2022). All images © Michelle Kingdom, shared with permission
Immersed in dreamlike surroundings, figures interact with nature and participate in enigmatic rituals in embroideries by Michelle Kingdom (previously). The Los Angeles-based artist continues to explore what she describes as “psychological landscapes,” portraying a diverse range of figures in ambiguous activities and settings that are intricately composed from thread. Drawing on the rich traditions of needlework, she takes a more freeform approach to the medium in which stitching becomes a tool for sketching, honoring its history while subtly subverting convention.
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Often gathered together, Kingdom’s subjects appear to be performing vital tasks or observing fascinating or momentous occurrences, yet their intentions are mysterious. Her compositions combine elements of nature, geometry, and allegory. In her statement she writes, “Memories, histories, and mythologies collide amid an undercurrent of political turbulence. Entwined, these influences explore power, relationships and self-perception.”
The artist is currently working toward a solo exhibition with bG Gallery in Santa Monica in early 2023. You can find more work and follow updates on her website and Instagram.
“After all, it was only make believe” (2021)
“Securely Fastened” (2021)
“True Blue” (2021)
“We grow accustomed to the dark” (2021)
“As if they stood under glass” (2021)
“Exchanging Heaven for Earth” (2021)
“No Respite” (2020)
“The Orbit of Paper Moons” (2021)
Source: thisiscolossal.com