Lynn Setterington
I am an internationally recognised artist working in the textiles arena. My work explores contemporary issues in society and how stitch can be used to commemorate people and communities.
My quilts and cloths are held in many major public museums including the V&A, Crafts Council, IQSC and Whitworth Art Gallery.
Born in Yorkshire, I trained at York College of Arts & Technology and Goldsmith’s College London. I have been a Senior Lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University in the School of Art since 1992.
Approach
I often combine traditional hand-stitched techniques with modern themes, creating pieces that explore memory, identity, and the passage of time. I like to push the boundaries of embroidery, using it as a medium to tell complex, personal stories, and my work is often characterised by intricate, detailed stitching and thoughtful narratives.
Exhibitions
I have exhibited widely and have been involved in the development of the contemporary craft scene in the UK. I have aimed to influence the education, teaching and mentoring of younger artists in the field of textiles. My work has been celebrated for its innovation and its blend of fine art with craft traditions.
Commissions
For the last decade I have specialised in devising and co-ordinating a number of commissions and pubic engagement projects using embroidery and quilt making. Some of this have been large-scale projects involving many people.
Across all my commissions I have worked with groups from a broad spectrum of social and culturally diverse backgrounds. These include a series of socially engaged projects exploring the sewn signature as a marker of identity.
I aim to constantly develop new ideas and approaches and my book, Connecting Threads (published January 2025), collects together my lifetime work.
“Lynn Setterington is an extremely important artist working on the edges of politics and ethnography”
Jane Webb – Head of School for Cross Faculty Studies, Warwick University