How silk organza and thread are worked into portraits and pictures that depict the people she meets
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There’s a clear sense you get when talking to Emily Jo Gibbs that making work is simply a natural response to the world around her.
For the next six months, she will be artist in residence at Trinity Buoy Wharf and aims to capture something of the place and those who call the Leamouth creative hub home.
“I’m hoping to meet other people, see the things that are going on here, hear stories and make work about them,” said the Forest Hill resident.
“I’ve already met the guys who are restoring the SS Robin and heard about their backgrounds in blacksmithing, cabinet-making and carpentry.
“That research will evolve into finished pieces and there will be an exhibition of those.
“Part of the project is also to run workshops too, although those are still being arranged.
“What is certain is that I’ll be hosting Stitch And Talk sessions at The Orchard Cafe.
“It’s about being here, meeting people, drawing, stitching and seeing what comes out of that.”
The stitching is key to Emily’s practice as she uses appliqué embroidery and silk organza to create her pieces.
Taught to sew by her mother, it’s a style that’s emerged from her background as a crafter.
a journey through materials
“I grew up in a family of makers and designers and I was passionate about art and making growing up,” she said.
“I actually went to study wood, metals and plastics at Wolverhampton University and it was only in the third year of that course that I started making fashion accessories in textiles and metal.”
Unsure what direction she wanted to pursue, she dabbled in leather work and shoe-making but ultimately found the processes restrictive after the comparative artistic freedom of her university course.
Building on the success of her degree show she managed to secure funding to start a small business making high-end handbags in London.
“That really took off and it was very exciting,” she said.
“It was ironic because I’d been quite intimidated by fashion students when I was doing my degree.
“But I did well because I was interested in materials.
“My bags were featured in Vogue and other magazines, travelling to Paris and Japan.”
After a decade of making, Emily changed direction when she had children, taking a “convenient” admin job.
While the handbag trade was unpredictable, she realised how important having a creative outlet was to her and began making work about her family.
“I used silk organza that I had from making the bags, initially for my own pleasure – portraits in what I call flat-work because they weren’t three dimensional like the accessories,” she said.
“That evolved as well. I went on to do portraits of kids who lived in our street.
“Through Craft Central in Clerkenwell I reconnected with Bridget Bailey who had been on the fashion scene making hats and was repositioning herself as an artist too.
“We got chatting about doing a collaborative project and I wanted to make a portrait of her, but she was quite shy about that.
“That got us thinking about other ways you could depict an artist, so I made a self portrait of her and me by depicting our pin cushions.
“I then did a whole project with seven contemporary makers, meeting them, talking to them and making portraits of them through their tools.”
making work
Emily’s practice involves the combination of delicate stitches – each done by hand – with the translucent, ethereal finery of her chosen fabric.
“It feels really good to say that I’m an artist – I’ve now been doing it longer than the time I spent making the bags,” she said.
“It’s lovely to meet other makers and make work about them.
“There are a lot of artists in the world who may not be working in contemporary craft, who may be quite hidden, and I’m interested in those people.
“I did a nice project with a boatyard in Lymington because it had a really interesting apprenticeship scheme.
“There I took photographs of the people and talked to them, and made work about them.
“Since doing that, I’ve been trying to get a project where I’m embedded and get to know the people better, and see how the work evolves.
“That’s how I came to apply to Trinity Buoy Wharf – they really liked my work and the projects I’ve been doing and selected me for this residency.
“Here I feel there’s lots going on behind closed doors, and I’d like to know what that is.
“The really exciting bit is not knowing exactly what’s to come and what I’m going to make while I’m here, engaged in this project.”
key details: Emily Jo Gibbs
Emily Jo Gibbs is artist in residence at Trinity Buoy Wharf for the next six months, culminating with a display of her work during London Craft Week in May.
Dates are yet to be confirmed.
Emily will be hosting drop-in Stitch And Talk sessions from 10am-noon on Tuesdays in November 2024 at The Orchard Cafe in Trinity Buoy Wharf.
These are for anyone interested in creating some art or finding out more about her practice and are free to attend. Materials and ideas provided.
Follow the artist on Instagram for details of future projects or find out more via her website
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- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com
