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thenastywoman  #OfHo

The Subversiver Stitcher

Holly Searle AKA The Subversive Stitcher is an award-winning Textile Artist was born in Central London during the last century. 

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An analogue child, she grew up closer to the make do and mend generation, than the digital one of the 21 century. She hails from a line of creative women who liked to stitch, embroider, and knit.

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" I always loved being creative, but as the years flew by and my time became more focused on other life stuff, there was no window for it. 

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Then one day, several years ago, I attended an exhibition on mental health at The Wellcome Collection and saw the most incredible sight. It was a sampler that had been made by an inmate of a Victorian Asylum.

The inmate Mary Frances Heaton had used a needle and thread to petition Queen Victoria about her individual experiences of the social injustices that had befallen her and that had led to her confinement.

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That moment, seeing her work changed my entire perception of how working with textiles could be used as a platform for raising awareness about issues that weren’t normally associated with samplers. I found it very emotive and extremely inspirational.

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Her passion reignited my own desire to find the time to create again. By using embroidery and textiles as a basis to draw attention to issues I feel strongly about, especially those that affect women, my aim has always been to echo a likeminded integrity for the truth by subverting the norm.

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Mary was incarcerated for 41 years and during that time, she never gave up sewing samplers as a platform for her voice to be heard.”

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Holly has collaborated on several community projects as well private commissions. She also hosts Subverted Stitching Workshops as well as continuing with her own art practice. 

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Exhibitions

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2018

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Fighting Talk/Shefest  2 – 15 March Chapel Walk Galley Sheffield

https://www.shefest.org.uk/fringe-festival-2018/fighting-talk-an-art-exhibition

 

Dame of the Hour  6 – 22 March St James Wine Vaults Bath

https://www.bathspa.ac.uk/news-and-events/events/dame-of-the-hour-exhibition/

 

Thumbnail Group Show  9 May – 23 May Nolia's Gallery London

 

Solo Show  19 June – 29 July 44AD Artspace Bath

http://www.44ad.net/associate-artist-events.html

 

50/50 Group Show  3 August – 23 August Crow's Nest Gallery London

https://www.artistic-uk.org/50-50

 

Cash is King  30 August – 8 September The Saatchi Gallery London https://www.rebelnottaken.com/cash-is-king

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http://saatchistore.saatchigallery.com/147-cash-is-king

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https://www.pressreader.com/uk/the-new-european/20180830/281552291726909

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BLACK Group Show 18 December - 20 December The Crypt Gallery Euston Road,
London,
NW1 2BA

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http://cryptgallery.org/event/black/

 

Work donated to Fivers4artists https://www.artistic-uk.org/fivers-for-artistic Cas

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2019

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Viva Iconic Group Show May 18 - Viva Dalston 2 Stoke Newington Rd, Hackney Downs, London N16 7XN

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One Love Group Show May 26 -  London 

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Cash is King 2  Money Talks - Notes featured in the second publication, exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery 21 August - 8 September.

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Cash is King - Mad in Margate Group Show - 18 October - 3 November 

Artgame 18 Marine Drive, Margate, Kent UK CT9 1DH  https://www.artgame.co.uk/event/mad-in-margate-private-view/

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For The Love Of Money Art Exhibition - 9 November - 31 December Studio 45,  45 Marshalls Row, Brighton BN1 4JU

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S.E.W International Contemporary Stitched Art Exhibition - https://www.societyforembroideredwork.com/events.html 12 November - 17 November The Clerkenwell Gallery, 20 Clerkenwell Road, London, EC1R 0DP

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The Foreplay Art Show -1 of 4 Female Artists Group Show 24 November - 31 December

At The Other One Gallery Art Space 1 The Cockpit, Saffron Walden, Essex
CB10 1HJ

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5 YEARS 50 PHING THINGS CHRISTMAS CHARITY AUCTION - The Ben Oakley Gallery Greenwich Market, 9 Turnpin Lane, Greenwich, London, SE10 9JA - 14 December 

https://www.benoakleygallery.com/5-years-50-phing-things/

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2021

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The Time of Her Life   Virtual Group Show May 1-31 https://www.thehouseofsmalls.art/

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Hands Off The Wall 

Street Art & Graffiti Festival For Women 30 July - 1 August Munich

https://www.handsoffthewall.com/

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The Volatile State  Virtual Group Show August 1 - 31  https://www.thehouseofsmalls.art/

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Background Bob and His Amazing Friends  Guess Who's Back  - Firstsite, Lewis Gardens, High Street,
Colchester, Essex, CO1 1JH18 September 2021 - Sunday 9 January 2022 https://firstsite.uk/event/background_bob-and-his-amazing-friends-guess-whos-back/ 

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London International Paste-Up Festival November 4 - 7

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/london-international-paste-up-festival-tickets-184224258717?aff=erelexpmlt

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Mirror Mirror on the Wall - The House of Smalls 6 November - 4 December

https://www.thehouseofsmalls.art/mirrormirroronthewall

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2022

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The Covid Chronicles Touring Exhibitions UK 2022 - 2023 

https://www.thecovidchronicle.org/

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I Am Woman Project 

Instagram @iamwomanproject  - To create 2D panel/banner/hanging featuring a woman constructed from individual fabric patches denoting the experiences of women.

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Confined - The House of Smalls 15 May - June 12 

https://www.thehouseofsmalls.art/confined

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Shadow - The House of Smalls 26 - 29 August 

https://www.thehouseofsmalls.art/shadow

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Time of Her Life II - The House of Smalls 26 - 29 August

https://www.thehouseofsmalls.art/thetimeofherlifeii

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2023

 

Sweary Dusters in Collaboration with The Profanity Embroidery Group (PEG)
Twelve Taps Gin Bar, Whitstable: 15th – 28th February

https://domesticdusters.wordpress.com/duster-exhibitions/

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Walk The Line - The House of Smalls Gallery 2 - 18 March

https://www.thehouseofsmalls.art/walktheline

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Through Her Eyes:A Celebration of Female Artists - The Lyric Hammersmith 9 - 31 March

Made up entirely of art by local female artists, this exhibition aims to celebrate the world through their eyes and share their stories.

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The Subverted Vintage Tea Towel Series - Newark Works Bath 26 May - 11 June 

The Subverted Vintage Tea Towels https://www.fringeartsbath.co.uk/subverted 

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The Time Of Her Life III - The House of Smalls Gallery 27 May - 24 June 

Group show https://www.thehouseofsmalls.art/thetimeofherlifeiii

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Doll - The House of Smalls Gallery July 8 - 5 August

Group show https://www.thehouseofsmalls.art/doll 

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BOLLOCKS & PYAMAS EXHIBITION - Atom Gallery, 127 Green Lanes, London N16 9DA

Nov 11 - Dec 2 

Group show https://www.atomgallery.co.uk/bollocks-and-pyjamas-exhibition.html 

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We Are The Witches  The House of Smalls Gallery 11 Nov - 16 Dec https://www.thehouseofsmalls.art/wearethewitches

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Re-Embroidering Blackwork The Unstitched Coif & Other Works Bloc Projects 19 - 23 Dec

 https://www.blocprojects.co.uk/exhibitions-events/2023/reembroidering-blackwork

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2024

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Pillowtalk -  7 February - ongoing

https://pegwhitstable.co.uk/exhibitions/

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The Subversive Stitcher Tea Towel Series  2020 - 2024 Riverside Studios London March 7th - April 29th 

https://riversidestudios.co.uk/our-story/news-and-stories/spring-exhibition-2024-at-riverside-studios/

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Moral Fibre The House of Smalls Edinburgh1 August - 25 August 

Moral Fibre | Exhibition | The House of Smalls Art Gallery | Edinburgh

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The Time of Her Life IV  28 September - 27 October 

The Time of Her Life IV | Exhibition | The House of Smalls Art Gallery | Edinburgh

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The Subverted Vintage Tea Towel Series The Knitting & Stitching Show 10 October - 13 October

Holly Searle - The Knitting & Stitching Show (theknittingandstitchingshow.com)

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2025

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Childhood, interrupted The House of Smalls Edinburgh 30 January - 1 March 

childhood, interrupted | Exhibition | The House of Smalls Art Gallery | Edinburgh

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Craft, Connect and Create for International Women’s Day Croydon Culture 28th Feb - 29th Mar 2025

Craft, Connect and Create for International Women's Day - This is Croydon

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The Wendy Project 10th - 29th Mar 2025 - Riesco Gallery, Museum of Croydon, Croydon Clocktower

The Wendy Project - This is Croydon

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CONTEXTURE Feat I Am Woman Project The House of Smalls Edinburgh 21 March - 19 April 

HOME | The House of Smalls | Edinburgh Art Gallery

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The Ascent of Man Feat I Am Woman Project The House of Smalls Edinburgh 23 May - 21 June 

 HOME | The House of Smalls | Edinburgh Art Gallery

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Publications & Interviews 

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Cash is King 2018

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Cash is King 2 2019

https://www.rebelnottaken.com/product-page/cash-is-king-2-book

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Unravelling Women's Art 2020/21

https://www.mrxstitch.com/unravelling-womens-art/

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Background Bob 2 2021

https://inspiringcity.com/2021/02/25/background-bob-creates-amazing-art-for-charity/

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The Covid Chronicles 2022 

https://www.thecovidchronicle.org/

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Embroidery Magazine 2022

https://shop.exacteditions.com/embroidery-magazine

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2023

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Online interview with The Fashion and Textile Museum 

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2024

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Ministry of Arts Podcast

Ep.249 Holly Searle aka The Subversive Stitcher 

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https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/ep-249-holly-searle-aka-the-subversive-stitcher/id1418975813?i=1000652970475​​

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​‘Meet The Artist’ (No: 74) | Holly Searle | Embroiderer - YouTube

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BBC London Shay Kaur Grewal - International Women's Day and The Wendy Project 

BBC Radio London - Shay Kaur Grewal, 06/03/2025

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Workshops

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2022

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The Fashion and Textile Museum - Subversive Stitching Tea Towels

https://fashiontextilemuseum.org/

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2023

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Newark Works Bath - Subverted Stitching Tea Towels

https://www.fringeartsbath.co.uk/subverted

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The Fashion and Textile Museum - Subversive Stitching 

https://www.fashiontextilemuseum.org/events/workshops/subversive-stitching

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2024 

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The Fashion and Textile Museum - Subversive Stitching 

https://www.fashiontextilemuseum.org/events/workshops/subversive-stitching-4

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Awards 

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Dame of The Hour Prize 2018

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Helen Putler Arts Prize 2023 - https://www.fringeartsbath.co.uk/news/2023/7/23/helen-putler-arts-prize-2023

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Collaborations 

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I Am Woman Project 2022 - 2025 Instagram @iamwomanproject22

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A joint collaborations between myself and 60 + female artists to create a woman out of patches that record their experience of being a woman.   

 

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Making you think with a needle and thread

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The Subversive Stitcher

Opening Hours

Mon - Fri: 10am - 7pm

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