Stewart's current practice research lies at the intersection of art, health and wellbeing. Through practice-based research, he is interested in reflecting on how the ritual of hand stitching can document emotional experiences. The intimacy of the medium itself, with the suggestion of repetitive touch, lends a poignancy to bodily associations, providing an intimate and ambiguous trace of the artist’s presence.
Stewart's current practice research lies at the intersection of art, health and wellbeing. Through practice-based research, he is interested in reflecting on how the ritual of hand stitching can document emotional experiences. The intimacy of the medium itself, with the suggestion of repetitive touch, lends a poignancy to bodily associations, providing an intimate and ambiguous trace of the artist’s presence.
Making hand stitched textiles can be therapeutic, a crucial tool for reflection and developing self-awareness. Working on slow, reflective projects has allowed a better understanding of the connection between the self and the desire to make art.
The work marks time, and chronicles emotional changes through the physical and reflective act of stitch. Subliminally, it conveys the concept of transformation in life, the importance of reflection, and the exploration of creativity as part of artistic identity.
Exhibitions (Selected)
2022 Drawn In, The Turnpike Gallery, Lancashire, UK
2022 60 Drawings + 10, The Whitaker Museum & Art Gallery, Lancashire, UK
2022 Bankley: 30 Years of Artist Led, Bankley Studios + Gallery, Manchester, UK
2022 Bubble: 22nd International Mini Textile Exhibition, Umelka Gallery, Bratislava, Slovakia
2021 Beyond Boundaries, High Five Art, Baarle-Nassau, The Netherlands
2020 The Joy of Repetition, Unit Twelve Gallery, Staffordshire, UK
2020 Talking Sense: The Changing Vocabulary of Mind and Brain, The Portico Library, Manchester, UK
2020 Dream, 5th International Triennial of Textile Art, TexpoART, Victoria & Theodor Pallady Art Galleries, Iasi, Romania
2019 | 21 | 23 International Biennial of Contemporary Mini Textile Art, Scythia, Ivano-Frankivs’k, Ukraine
2019 Hang Out, Bankley Studios + Gallery, Manchester, UK
2019 Small Works, Surface Design Association, Arcade Contemporary Art Projects, Webster University, St Louis, USA
2018 | 22 Fate, Destiny & Self Determination: An International Tapestry Project, International Fibre Festival 2018, King House, Roscommon, Ireland | Tuchmacher Museum, Bramsche, Germany | Tuch + Technik Textilmuseum, Neumunster, Germany | Mississippi Valley, Textile Museum, Ontario, Canada
2018 | 20 From Lausanne to Beijing, International Fiber Art Biennale, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
2018 - 19 5th Triennial Textile Art of Today, Danubiana Meulensteen Art Museum, Bratislava, Slovakia | Tatra Gallery, Poprad, Slovakia | The Morovian Museum, Uherske Hradiste, Czech Republic | Pesti Vigadó Gallery, Budapest, Hungary | Historical Museum, Bielsko-Biala, Poland
2018 Face to Face, World of Threads Festival, Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural
Centre, Oakville, Ontario, Canada (Solo)
2018 Chaozhou International Embroidery Art Biennale, International Conference Center of Hanshan Normal University, Chaozhou, China
2017 Fantastic Fibers 2017, Yeiser Art Center, Paducah, USA
2017 Echo Chamber, Bankley Studios + Gallery, Manchester, UK
2016 | 18 | 20 | 22 International Biennial of Contemporary Textile Art, Scythia, Kherson & Ivano-Frankivs’k, Ukraine
2016 Traces, Hand & Lock, London, UK (Solo)
2016 Process, Bankley Studios + Gallery, Manchester, UK
2016 Open Exhibition, Waterside Arts Centre, Cheshire, UK
2015 | 17 | 22 Fibremen, International Exhibition of Contemporary Textile Art, Scythia, Kherson & Ivano-Frankivs’k, Ukraine
2015 Bodyworks, Bankley Studios + Gallery, Manchester, UK (Solo)
2014 Traces, Bowery Gallery, Leeds, UK (Solo)
2014 The Studios #2: Drawing Possibilities, The Studios Gallery, Derbyshire, UK
2014 Human Clay Revisited, Studio Eleven Gallery, Hull, UK | The Ropewalk, Lincolnshire, UK
2013 Life Lines, The Turnpike Gallery, Lancashire, UK (Solo)
2012 Go Figure, Studio Eleven Gallery, Hull, UK
2012 Made with Love, Studio Eleven Gallery, Hull, UK
2012 Textiles & Mixed Media, Eggspace, Liverpool, UK
2012 Life Lines, The Beetroot Tree, Derbyshire, UK (Solo)
2012 Hospitality Re-Viewed, Baltic Creative, Liverpool, UK
2012 60 Drawings, Bankley Studios + Gallery, Manchester, UK
2012 The Div/sion of Power, Fletcher Moss Art Gallery, Manchester, UK
2011 | 12 Open Contemporary Art Exhibition, Stockport Art Gallery, Manchester, UK
2011 | 12 Lancashire & Yorkshire Craft Open Exhibition, Platform Gallery, Lancashire, UK
2011 Life Lines, Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, UK (Solo)
2010 – 11 Lines & Strata 2: Contemporary Welsh Drawing, Denbigh Museum & Art Gallery, Wales, UK | Oriel Mwldan, Wales, UK | White Lion Street Gallery, Wales, UK | Gwynedd Museum & Art Gallery, Wales, UK
2010 Crafted, Kirkby Gallery, Liverpool, UK
2009 Kyffin Williams Drawing Prize, Oriel Ynys Mon, Wales, UK
2008 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 23 Open Studios, Bankley Studios + Gallery, Manchester, UK
2005 | 06 | 07 Open Studios, Hotbed Press, Salford, UK
2004 Artlink, Stockport Art Gallery, Manchester, UK
2003 Open Exhibition, Clwyd Theatr Cymru, Wales, UK
2003 Open Exhibition, Grosvenor Museum, Chester, UK
2002 Echo, The Holden Gallery, Manchester, UK
2002 Shopping, Debenhams Windows, Manchester, UK
2002 Testing Time, The Holden Gallery, Manchester, UK
2001 | 03 Young Wales, Royal Cambrian Academy, Wales, UK
2001 | 03 Open Exhibition, Gwynedd Museum & Art Gallery, Wales, UK
2001 Following a Line, Oriel Mostyn, Wales, UK
2001 Stewart Kelly, Oriel Mostyn, Wales, UK (Solo)
2001 Destination Unknown, Ruthin Craft Centre, Wales, UK
2000 | 01 | 02 Indigo Salon, Premiere Vision, Paris, France
2000 Zones, Liverpool Art School, Liverpool, UK
2000 Graduate Fashion Week, Earls Court, London, UK
2000 New Designers, Business Design Centre, London, UK
Awards
2020 Award for Excellence, From Lausanne to Beijing, 11th Fiber Art Biennale, China
2020 Award for Excellence, State of Health: Illness, Recovery & Art, Fiber Art Now, USA
2020 Silver Medal, 13th International Biennial of Contemporary Textile Art, Scythia, Ukraine
2001 Postgraduate Study Award, Arts & Humanities Research Council
Education
2021 - present PhD (Research by Practice), Manchester Metropolitan University, UK
2006 PGCE (Further, Higher & Adult Education), Manchester Metropolitan University, UK
2002 MA Textiles, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK
2000 BA (Hons) Fashion & Textiles Design, Liverpool John Moores University, UK}
Training
2009 Foundation Studies in Art Therapy, British Association of Art Therapists, UK
2008 Introduction to Art Therapy, British Association of Art Therapists, UK
2007 ABC Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Concepts, Manchester Adult Education Service, UK
