The Cutting (& Stitching) Edge - Stitch Therapy

Emma Parker, a.k.a. Stitch Therapy, is an embroidery artist from the UK.

“My work explores the darker and often hidden aspects of being human: fear, shame, abandonment, despair and the broken – with an occasional twist of humour added for sanity. I use discarded and worn materials in my work and see the act of making with them as a process of transformation and salvaging of the broken self.

“The use of thread and stitch helps me make connections and piece the broken together whilst the repetitive nature of hand sewing is a soothing rhythm, which nurtures and helps mend. In my work I often include fragments of narratives or imagery that may tell only part of a story, leaving it up to the viewer to find their own ending.”

There’s something quite thrilling about Emma’s work; a desperation and rawness that emphasises the brokenness of the work. Looking through her portfolio, I feel like I am reading the diaries of a madman, feeling the fear and excitement of work on the edge. It’s pretty powerful stuff.

Emma is hoping to study a Masters in Arts Psychotherapy and is seeking support with her funding. For more information, and to help her towards her goal, visit her IndieGoGo page.