Cecilia Charlton: Mammoth loop

9 Oct 2021-26 Feb 2022

Overview

An exhibition of textiles co-created with local people exploring Ilford’s rich history, from Roman and Iron age artefacts and the pre-historic mammoth skull discovered in 1864. 

Throughout July and August 2021, Redbridge residents took part in a series of textile-themed workshops, experimenting with a range of techniques such as bargello needlepoint, crewel embroidery, cross-stitch embroidery and different fabric dyeing methods. 

The works created are now on show in the gallery, united into large-scale quilted artworks as a physical manifestation of the social connections made during the time sewing together.

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Cecilia Charlton (b. 1985) is a London-based American artist. She creates technicolour, highly-patterned textile works that question notions of medium by bringing together traditions of painting, craft, abstraction and folk art. Aesthetically revolving around formal references to abstraction, the works’ titles often reveal autobiographical content, such as issues of mortality, sexuality, family relationships and mental health.

Since graduating she has worn many hats: an exchange student in Honduras, a PADI-certified SCUBA Divemaster, a brief stint as an engineering student, a backpacker, a silversmith, and a studio potter. She received a BFA Painting in 2015 from Hunter College in NYC and an MA Painting from the Royal College of Art in 2018. She has exhibited in the UK and internationally and recent exhibitions include: Aurora, Candida Stevens Gallery, 2020 (solo); Parade, curated by Kris Day, Broadway Gallery, UK, 2019; Tender Touches, curated by Ines Neto dos Santos and Huma Kabakci of Open Space Contemporary, AMP Gallery, London, 2019; Grid :: Preset, Blyth Gallery, London, 2019; Lifeline as Medium, 532 Gallery, NYC, 2018; SURGE: The Eastwing Biennial, Courtauld Institute, London, 2018; FAKERS, Thamesside Gallery, London, 2018; Rogue Objects, curated by spaceship, University College London, 2018. Awards include the Jerwood Makers Open 2021, Fulbright UK Scholarship in 2015 (shortlisted), and the Ellen Battel Stockel Fellowship as part of the Yale University Norfolk Residency in 2014.