Biography
PATRICIA KELLY
Co.Fermanagh, N. Ireland
EMAIL patriciak531@gmail.com
INSTAGRAM @patriciakelly_artist
I attended Ulster University in Belfast, completing a degree in Fine Craft Design in 1986.
Through freehand embroidery techniques, I create work in which the stitched line becomes a form of artistic expression leaning increasingly towards abstraction. My art is inspired by the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi, which finds beauty in imperfection. A deep sense of belonging to a place, where family history intertwines with present lives, is a determining element in my work. I use recycled fabrics and natural dyes, as practised by previous generations, to evoke the layering of connected lives.
I aim to weave a deeply personal narrative of connection to land, the passage of time, and the enduring practices of labour. My work is a meditative exploration of line and shape. It has evolved through the study of line in our organic landscape. Initially captivated by tangled branches silhouetted against the night sky, I find myself drawn to fine, scribbly line, which I explore through free machine stitch. I experiment with repeating lines, finding new ways to express this visual language with the layering of transparent materials. My fascination with geometric ground has developed alongside this, which I attribute to our intrinsic need to organize space. Growing up on a farm where tactile, linear labour was daily routine, making hay and cutting turf, I am drawn to the patterns of the land, fields organized by ditches, and their organic order.
My practice is characterized by an organic, flowing approach to materials and techniques, allowing a process of trial and error, where one idea often leads to another. Recent work has moved toward a minimalist, geometric approach, using straight stitch in black thread. I layer and stitch repeatedly to create a pencil-drawing effect. I enjoy creating contrasts in the density of stitching. The line is becoming increasingly fluid and deliberate.
My process is deeply therapeutic. I begin each piece with a sense of urgency to create a continuous line. This act becomes a form of self-expression, like a meditative ritual. I evaluate as I work, allowing the piece to evolve in unexpected ways. Sometimes I have an idea of how I want the piece to look, but often it changes as I progress. This fluid approach allows mistakes to be incorporated, rejected pieces often finding new life in later works. I love adding previously worked pieces into new works, because, like the recycled materials, they already carry a history that contributes to the final piece.
Stitching is a way to express the deep, unspoken parts of myself. I see it as a form of therapy, a quiet space where I can process and communicate my personal experience.
EDUCATION, AWARDS, INTERVIEWS and LINKS
2025 Catalogue available at www.al3vie.com/prodotto/2903
2025 www.amaci.org/events/68c850b7d0091492063ee2dd
2025 Selected, IATB, Fibre arts Australia, Textile Biennale
2025 Awarded, Solo exhibition, SCD Perujia, Italy
2025 Commended Award, 'Unbound,' Craftni. August Craft exhibition, Belfast
2025 www.txtilezine.com/en/patricia-kelly-and-the-poetry-of-daily-lines by Barbara Pavan
2025 Feature in Published book by Charlotte Vannier on artists using thread
2024, Selected, SOMAS Research Project, University of Cyprus
2023 Selected into Craft NI makers Directory
2023, www:artemorbida.com/patricia-kelly/ @linktr.eelartemorbida
2023, Friday Feature Interview, FibreArts, Australia
www.fibreartstaketwo.com/articles/kelly-2
2023, www.textileartist.org - Discover:Seven contemporary textile artists
2022, 2009, ACNI SIAP Support for the individual artist award
2021, Solo Exhibition Award, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council
2020, Materials award, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council
08,09,11,13,17 Fermanagh District Council Residency Award
08,09,11,13,17,19, Residency, Tyrone Guthrie Centre, Co. Monaghan
2011, Selected- Artwork for the New Acute Hospital, Enniskillen
1986, BA Honours Fine Craft Design/ Embroidery, 1988 Dip. Art Education. University of Ulster
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SOLO SHOWS
2025, September, Textile exhibition with SCD studio in Perugia, Italy
2024, November, Solo show, Knitting and Stitching Show, Belfast
2022, Strule Arts Centre Omagh, Co. Tyrone
2021, Ards Art Centre, Newtownards
2017, Waterways Ireland, Enniskillen
2010, 11, Inspire Gallery, Dublin
2010, The Waterside Theatre, Derry
2009, Iontas Theatre Gallery, Castleblaney
The Alley Theatre and Arts Centre, Strabane
The Grand Opera House, Belfast
Market House Gallery, Mullingar
The Higher Bridges Gallery, Enniskillen
2008, The Carlinn Gallery, Carlingford,
2007, The Hamilton Gallery, Sligo
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GROUP AND SELECTED EXHIBITION
2027, SOMAS Project, Cyprus
2025, R-Space Gallery, 'Experimental,' Lisburn, N. Ireland
2025, Gallery 57_contemporaryart, Arundel, Sussex, 'Collections.'
2025, Bluecoat Display Centre, Liverpool, Celebration of Irish makers
2025, 'The Curators,' online gallery, www.thecurators.com
2025, IATB, Fibre arts Australia, Textile Biennale
2025, Dabas Notversana, International Drawing Box group show, Latvia
2025, 2024 Cairde Arts Festival, Sligo, Ireland
2025, RUA, with Craftni. Belfast
2025, Craft NI, Belfast, Summer and Christmas exhibitions
2024, Gallery 545 at La Roche House, Belfast
2024, Drawing Box International, Leitrim Sculpture Centre
2024, Museo del Ricamo e del Tessile, Valtopina, Italy
2024, Slowlane Gallery, Dublin
2024, Gallery 57, Sussex, UK, Cloth and Clay
2024, 2023, 2022 Gallery 545, online and Contemporary art N.I. Lisburn
2024, 2023 Simon Community auction, Gormleys' Fine Art, Dublin.
2023, Gallery 545 at Edinburgh Artfair
2023, Craft NI. Silver and Gold exhibition, Belfast
2023, Craft NI, Teachers- Makers exhibition, Belfast
2023, Craft NI, Summer exhibition, Belfast
2023, Glasgow Project Room, Drawing Box group show
2023, Courthouse Gallery, Co. Clare, Summer Open
2023. Glebe House and Gallery, Easter Open, Donegal
2022, Amelie Maison d'art. Paris. Selected Textile Art
2022, Two person show, Cloth and Clay, Island Arts Centre, Lisburn
2022, Fibre; Structure and Surface, Gallery 57, West Sussex
2021/22, Art in your pocket. A5 Artworks. Awarded Solo Show, Strule 2022
2021, Art in Mind, The Brick Lane Gallery, London
2020, Cross Gallery, Bundaberg, Australia
2020- 2022, The Drawing Box, International touring exhibition
2019, Nine Walls, The Hyde Bridge Gallery, Sligo
2025, 24, 23, 22, 21, 20, Incognito, Solomon, Dublin and Lavit, Gallery, Cork
2017, Boyle Arts Festival. “Facing West”
2016, Full circle Gallery, Castle Museum, Enniskillen
2011,12,13,15,16, Higher Bridges Gallery, Enniskillen
2009-14, Mc Kenna Gallery Omagh
2004-12, Parvis, Lisburn
2012, “Interwoven” selected textile show, Chapel Gallery, Lancashire
2012, All Dressed Up” Enniskillen Castle Museum
1999, 07, 10, RUA Annual exhibition, Ulster Museum, Belfast
2005,06,10, The Hamilton Gallery, Sligo
2010, Sacred Project, with selected works from ACNI, IMMA, Enniskillen
2004-10, Castleupton Gallery, Templepatrick
COLLECTIONS
HSE, Health Services Ireland
The New Acute Hospital, Enniskillen
The Tyrone Guthrie Centre, Co. Monaghan.
Enniskillen Castle Museum, Co Fermanagh
Private Collections, worldwide
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PRESENTATIONS AND WORK EXPERIENCE
2026, Talk and workshop, IPS, Irish Patchwork Society
2023, Talk and Workshop, Irish Embroidery Guild, Dublin
2022, Drawing workshops, Co. Fermanagh
2022 Artists talk, Strule Arts Centre, Omagh
1988-2021 Full-time Teacher of Art and Design, Belleek, Co. Fermanagh
2017, Textile workshop, Waterways Ireland Gallery, Enniskillen
2013, Invited Artist Lecture, Textile group, Sligo
2012, Invited Artist Lecture, Northern Ireland Patchwork Guild
2011, Invited artist, Lecture and workshop- N.I. Craft month, Enniskillen
2010, Assistant Curator, Visual Arts Fermanagh
2010, BBC Radio Ulster Presentation, “Your Place and Mine”
Invited Artist Lecture and Workshop-Northern Ireland Embroidery Guild
Invited Artist Lecture and Workshop-Island Arts Group, Enniskillen
2008, Invited Artist, Lecture and Workshop- Cavan Quilting Society
2006-08, Invited Artist Tutor- Ardess Art Society
1996, 6 Month- Artist in Residence, Western Education and Library Board
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MEMBERSHIP
2020-2025, The International Drawing Box
2020- 2025 Visual Arts Ireland