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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

A Stitch in Time

Thursday 18 May and Friday 19 May 2023
Latai Taumoepeau
Latai Taumoepeau, 2014, printed 2023, augmented 2023 Deborah Kelly. Made on the land of the Gadigal of the Eora Nation, Sydney, printed on the land of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation, Naarm/Melbourne, sewn on the land of the Ngunnawal and Ngambri peoples, Kamberri/Canberra. Courtesy of the artist

Are you a sewing enthusiast or sewist, bead-freak, craft king or queen? Do you embroider for pleasure and enjoy sharing creative labour? Then why not join us in the Gallery for a sewing circle with artist Deborah Kelly?! Take part in embellishing the linen portraits of Justin Shoulder and Latai Taumoepeau featured in Portrait23: Identity and explore a decade in the bodily transformation and lived history of both subjects.

You are welcome to join one, two or all of the workshops. The portraits will visibly evolve across the exhibition period. All materials provided at no charge.

For the Sunday 12 March session there’ll be a lunch break from 1:00 – 2:00pm. Bring along something to eat or treat yourself to a lunch in the Portrait Café.

Deborah Kelly sewing circle
Deborah Kelly sewing circle

Deborah Kelly

Born on Wurundjeri/Boon Wurrung Country, Naarm/Melbourne, Deborah Kelly is based between Gadigal Country, Sydney and Jerrinja Country, Currarong. Deborah is known for her multi-disciplinary, exuberant and diverse artworks that come to life through workshops, events and performances. Working with collaborators, participants and institutions throughout Australia and worldwide, she has contributed to the Biennales of Singapore, Venice, Thessaloniki, TarraWarra and Sydney. Her kaleidoscopic collage animation work The Gods of Tiny Things was featured at ACMI, Melbourne in 2021, and CREATION, now touring nationally, was exhibited at the Sydney Opera House and at the Museum of Contemporary Art.

Deborah’s A stitch in time is an unfolding evolution of participatory portraits of Justin Shoulder and Latai Taumoepeau, begun in 2013.

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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

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