Emily Barletta Auctions a hand-embroidered painting on paper with The Fiber Studio Summer Auction Program.
I know I’ve said this about every auction here on The Fiber Studio so far, but I am SO excited about this one! I am a long time fan of Emily Barletta’s intricately stitched works on paper. In fact, Emily was one of the first artists I interviewed here on the blog (You can read our previous interview here). When making plans for The Summer Auction Program, I knew I had to get in touch with Emily and ask to auction one of her pieces. I am thrilled that she said yes!
The artwork that we’ve selected is a hand embroidery and painting on paper, shown above. This is a small piece, measuring only 6 x 5.5 inches, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in intensity. The energetic stitched pattern over hot pink splashes of paint makes a real impact. Frame this right and it will be the talking point of a gallery wall.
The start price for this piece is just £50.00 so it’s a great opportunity to invest in a one-off piece of art by an incredibly talented fiber artist.
As always, bidding in the auction will take place in the comments section of the post on The Fiber Studio Instagram.
The auction is open from Friday 30th August 12 pm GMT until Sunday 7pm GMT.
If you’d like a reminder when the embroidery auction starts, just get in touch via Instagram.
I was excited to have a catch up with Emily to find out how her work has progressed over the past few years. She was kind enough to answer some of my questions which you can read below.
To appreciate Emily’s work, you really need to look through every unique and incredible piece. I’ve tried to include works here that exemplify her progression as an artist, but I suggest heading over to her website after this post to appreciate her work in full. With each new piece she explores new aspects of the medium and of her creativity; always pushing and reinventing, yet staying true to her style. She’s the perfect example of an artist who has found her voice in an oversaturated medium.
The last time I interviewed you was almost exactly 3 years ago! What has changed for you during that time?
I’ve switched from a full-time day job to a part-time day job to have more on art time. I’ve spent the last few years really focusing on my health and trying to be as healthy as possible, at least, as much as it is in my control. Everything else is probably the same. I make art, I like to travel and go to nature with my dogs.
Can you tell us a bit about the piece you’re auctioning?
I made a series of embroidered star pieces on painted backgrounds. I’m interested in how the dramatic sharp lines of the stars interact with the ethereal painted backgrounds. I played with colors combos like soft and light blues, but also acidic pinks and oranges. The little stars look so bold like little explosions from a comic book. I imagined them as thought bubbles of energy.
In the last interview you said you’re always trying to create more figurative work but every time you do, you hate it. Has this changed?
Very recently, I just started making figurative work. It started earlier this year with embroideries based on polaroids I had taken (Untitled 215-218 on my website) and then painting them. I also spent a little time embroidering images of Victorian jewelry (Untitled 212-214 on my website). More recently, I had been working on very large scale abstract embroideries, when I broke a rib. My range of motion did not allow me to work big or even sew very much. I spent several weeks drawing and revisiting old drawings, experimenting with the idea of not having to sew all of the lines I wanted to create. I liked the idea of sewing some lines and drawing others. So now, yes, I’m making a series of figurative work and I’m enjoying it (on Instagram). I look forward to being completely healed and being able to make this figurative work big.
I’ve seen some painting creeping into your more recent work (which I love!), what brought about this change?
I took a flower painting workshop with my good friend/talented artist @helendealtry and it was just so fun and relaxing. I was reminded of when I first moved to NYC 10-15 years ago and worked as a commercial painter, making made to order paintings for offices. After her class, I remembered how much I enjoyed painting. That even if I wasn’t confident in my ability, I had a basis of knowledge to start experimenting with painting as a layering technique to sew on.
In the past 3 years since we last spoke, the fibre art scene has exploded… Embroidery has become so popular, it seems that every other person on Instagram is trying their hand at it. What effect has this had on you and your work?
I don’t really feel an effect, but I do notice how much it is out there. At this point, I’m hitting my 10 year anniversary of sewing on paper so I feel good about it. I think there’s more than enough room for everyone to make whatever they want with whatever they want. I do get many questions on Instagram about the technical aspects of how I do what I do.
What do you think it is about this moment in time that is making so many people look to slow, traditional crafts like embroidery?
Part of it has to be permission. As more artists switch to traditional fiber techniques as a medium for art, it gives all of us permission to use, and also view the medium on an elevated platform. I think there’s probably many people art there, like me, who grew up doing handicrafts and have only rediscovered as adults that they can use these techniques to make art. A correlation could also be drawn between how everything has become fast-paced and digital and iPhones, so there is a need to slow things down and return to handicrafts.
What do you see for the future of your artwork?
Definitely more large works. I have really enjoyed working big recently. I imagine there will continue to be less embroidered surface areas and more non-embroidered areas of the work, as well as more experimenting with a combination of painting and drawing. Over time my work has evolved from small and super details to more open and sparse. I think that trend will most likely continue. But I get bored and I change my mind easily and often, so it is possible I might be completely wrong about all this
EMILY BARLETTA EMBROIDERY AUCTION DETAILS
THE AUCTION WILL TAKE PLACE OVER ONE WEEKEND, STARTING ON FRIDAY 30TH AUGUST AT 12 PM GMT, ENDING ON SUNDAY 1ST SEPTEMBER AT 7 PM GMT.
To participate in the auction follow The Fiber Studio on Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/thefiberstudio/?hl=en. You must cast your bid in the comments section of the Instagram auction post.
Bidding is in British Pound Sterling.
Payment will be due via PayPal or bank transfer.
Shipping to the US is £8 and shipping outside the US is £16.
Only bids in the auction post’s comment section will count. Neither the Fiber Studio, not the artist, will accept bids made outside this space.
The Fiber Studio does not take any responsibly for the artwork after the auction has ended. This includes loss and damage. Once payment has cleared, I will send contact details of the buyer to the artist. The artist is responsible for any correspondence thereafter.
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