laura thomas
Woven Drawings
13th June - 26th July 2026
13th June - 26th July 2026
This exhibition presents
a new body of work arising from an ongoing investigation into line and
mark-making within woven structures. These woven drawings examine the nuances
of visual rhythm and motif through a restrained material palette of linen,
raffia, cotton, and hemp.
The artworks represent a tuning into intuition and the innate comfort found in repetition - both in the visual patterns produced and the mechanical cadence of the floor loom. However, a subtle tension exists within this order. While the linen plain weave ground is disciplined, the raffia used to articulate the line is unyielding and non-uniform. These characteristics force every inlaid twist and loop to assert its own independence, creating character at every juncture that defies perfect symmetry.
Technically, these works sit at the intersection between weaving and embroidery. The black raffia is not an afterthought or embellishment; it is inlaid into the linen ground during the weaving process, making the structural pattern integral to the textile’s very existence. Inspired by coastal textures - eroded rocks, tidal sands, and shell clusters - these works do not aim for literal representation. Instead, they echo the fundamental tension between the orderly systems of the loom and the beautiful unruliness of the natural world.
The artworks represent a tuning into intuition and the innate comfort found in repetition - both in the visual patterns produced and the mechanical cadence of the floor loom. However, a subtle tension exists within this order. While the linen plain weave ground is disciplined, the raffia used to articulate the line is unyielding and non-uniform. These characteristics force every inlaid twist and loop to assert its own independence, creating character at every juncture that defies perfect symmetry.
Technically, these works sit at the intersection between weaving and embroidery. The black raffia is not an afterthought or embellishment; it is inlaid into the linen ground during the weaving process, making the structural pattern integral to the textile’s very existence. Inspired by coastal textures - eroded rocks, tidal sands, and shell clusters - these works do not aim for literal representation. Instead, they echo the fundamental tension between the orderly systems of the loom and the beautiful unruliness of the natural world.
A selected collection is available to purchase from our online shop: