Approved: 16.08.2006

Jilli Blackwood

Artist, Community worker, Lecturer / academic, Maker, Teacher

Approved: 16.08.2006

A textile is expected to behave in a certain way, to be laid across a bed, to clothe and protect us from the elements or to flutter in the sky proclaiming a nation's existence. My fabrics are there to be looked at in contrasts to their surroundings and to challenge the viewer to re-think their perceptions of the function of fabric. The very nature of my work in which a wide variety of fibres are

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  • Location: Glasgow, Scotland
  • Contexts: Arts in health, Commission, Design, Exhibition, Public art
  • Artforms: Installation, Textiles
  • Tags: #textile #wallhanging #installation #commission #embroidery #colour #maker #colour, textile wallhanging installation commission embroidery colour maker, commission wallhanging quilting abstract expressionism appiedart machine embroidery hand embroidery colour, embroidery embroidered textile tapestry colour fabric art appliedart wallhanging quilt, embroidery textile commission installation, fibre art, interior design, kilt performance textile embroidery recycling reclaimed arttowear fabric, textile wallhanging commission exhibition maker, textural embroidery textile exhibition commission project weaving hand embroidery hand-dying, wallhanging commission installation embroidery handmade
 

Artist Statement

A textile is expected to behave in a certain way, to be laid across a bed, to clothe and protect us from the elements or to flutter in the sky proclaiming a nation's existence. My fabrics are there to be looked at in contrasts to their surroundings and to challenge the viewer to re-think their perceptions of the function of fabric. The very nature of my work in which a wide variety of fibres are mixed together, incorporating reclaimed fabric with new are sewn and cut defies the precision of modern design not detracting from it but complementing it. Influences Culture, Landscape, Emotions, own gender (Female) Career path 1986 to the present, Self employed Artist working in Textiles 1986 Glasgow School of Art, 1st Class BA Hons, Art & Design

CV & Education

Education

1982-86   Glasgow School of Art

1986        Graduated, 1st Class B.A. Honours Art & Design

Permanent Collections

Corporate

2008        Biocon Bangalore, India

2008        The Celtic Opus Book, Kraken Publishing Ltd UK

2006        Standard Life Aberdeen PLC UK

2003         The Peak Group, Aberdeen UK 

1999         British Telecom Headquarters, Edinburgh UK

Public

2019        Firmdale Hotels, London, Kit Kemp

2016        Fairmount Hotel, St Andrews, UK

2007        The West of Scotland Cancer Care Centre, Glasgow UK

2005        United States Consulate, Edinburgh UK

2005         South & East Belfast Healthcare Centre UK

2002         St Andrew’s House, Scottish Government, Edinburgh UK

2002          The Homeopathic Hospital, Glasgow UK

Museums

2014        Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Glasgow UK

2011        Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Glasgow UK

2010        ‘Tilda’ Art to Wear Kilt, National Museums of Scotland, Edinburgh

2006        Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Glasgow, Mackintosh Gallery UK

2005        The National Museums Scotland, Edinburgh UK

2004        Victoria & Albert Museum, London UK

1992         Embroiderers Guild, Hampton Court Palace UK

1990         Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Glasgow UK

1989         Aberdeen Art Gallery, Aberdeen UK

Design Projects

2016        22 digitally printed silk panels for the US, ‘The Fabric of My Life No.2’         

2015        Heathrow Airport Tartan Design for promotional celebration of Scotland

2014    Designer of the Parade Uniforms for The Scottish Team at The Opening of the 2014 Commonwealth Games 

2014       Tartan Design Installation for the Interior Space for The World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) for The Athletes’ Village, 2014 Commonwealth Games

2010       Glasgow Schools Writing Project for the Handover Ceremony, Delhi

2009-10    Director of Costume, The Flag Handover Ceremony, Commonwealth Games, Delhi India

2009    Commissioned by John Michie, The Michie Tartan and Sporran, STV Documentary ‘Made in Scotland’ 

2008        Commissioned by the Publishers Kraken Opus, Celtic Opus Book

2007        Biocon, Bangalore, India, range of corporate gifts inspired by the 

                 Synergy wall hanging  

2007        Iconic silhouette ‘Art to Wear’ outfit for ‘Valt’, Scottish drinks company

Private Collections- Embroidered Hangings

Jilll’s embroidered wall hangings are held in numerous private collections world wide from; the USA, UK, Spain, Japan and Australia.

Interior Projects

2020            Embroidery Installation private client UK

2019             Embroidery Installation private client UK

2001             Private Commission Dining Room Interior

1998             Linda Reid Interiors Soft Furnishing

1988-94       Designers Guild Soft Furnishing

Art to Wear Projects

2020               “Millennium Kilt No. 9” private client USA

2019               ‘Art to Wear’ waistcoat private client UK

2017               ‘Art to Wear’ private client, UK

2016               “Art to Wear’ private client, UK

2015                Silk and wool double cloth hand dyed wraps

2015                ‘Art to Wear’ embroidered leather and tartan bustle, private client

2014                ‘Art to Wear’ wedding dress, private client

 

    Jilli Blackwood has worked on projects with a number of high profile clients throughout the years; John Michie actor, Blyth Duff actor, Mrs Robert Carlyle, Mark McGhee Aberdeen Football clubManager, Angelica Berrie of Russ Toys US, Jennifer Grant daughter of the actor Cary Grant, Anna Ryder Richardson and many other private clients.

Exhibitions

2020        12 Hay Hill Mayfair London UK

2019        “Art and Craft”, HIGH Walton St London UK

2019        ‘Collect’, Saatchi Gallery London exhibiting with CAA 

2019         European Craft Exhibition, Kuwait National Museum, Kuwait

2018         Contemporary Applied Art London ‘Colour Theory’

2017-20     CAA London, ‘Present and Collect’

2017          Contemporary Applied Arts London, New Admissions 

2017           Scottish Textiles, Scotland House, London

2015-17      ‘Naked Craft’ touring exhibition, Canada and Scotland

2012         The Long Beach Island Foundation of Arts and Sciences

2011         ‘The Force of Memory’, The Compass Gallery, Glasgow, Touring

2011          The Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show, USA, November

2011         The Knitting & Stitching Show London, October

2010        ‘Collect’ Saatchi Gallery London, May 2010

2010        ‘Meet Your Maker’, NMS, January- March Artist in Residence, touring.

2009        ‘Homecoming’ Exhibition, Musa, Aberdeen, July- September

2009    University of Dundee, seminar relating to the V&A proposal for a building in Dundee UK

2008        ‘Collect’, Victoria & Albert Museum London UK

2007        Visual Arts Scotland, RSA The Mound, Edinburgh, March

2007        ‘The Cutting Edge’ Exhibition, The Best of Scottish Contemporary Craft,                        National Museums Scotland, Edinburgh, touring

2005           ‘New Acquisitions’ Craft Gallery, NMS Edinburgh Festival

2005            Textile Biennale Stroud, Gloustershire ‘The Rope Store’ May

2005-11       ‘Threaded & Shredded’ Julies Artisans’ Gallery New York USA

2004             Private Exhibition of Textiles, Los Angeles, USA 

2004             ‘Curators Wish List’ Brewery Arts, Cirencester, Nov

2003             ‘The Joy of Living’ Collins Gallery Strathclyde University, Touring 

2003              Christmas Exhibition Craft Council Shop at Victoria & Albert Museum London UK

2003                 ‘Shine & Shimmer’ Craft Council Shop at Victoria & Albert Museum London UK

2003                 ‘Textile ‘ The Green Gallery, Aberfoyle, UK Feb/Mar

2003                 Scottish Gallery Edinburgh UK Mixed Show, Feb/Mar

2002                 ‘Men in Skirts’, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, Feb/May

1998/02           ‘Satellites of Fashion’ Craft Council & The British Council Touring

2001                 ‘Rise & Shine’ The Devon Guild of Craftsmen, Jan - Mar

2000                 ‘To Boldly Sew’ Textiles for the C21st McManus Galleries, Dundee, toured

1999                 ‘Textiles’, Nottingham Castle Museum Sept - Nov

1999                 ‘The Uncut Cloth’ Paisley Museum & Art Gallery

Television and Radio

2014         ABC Breakfast Television, Australia 

2014         BBC News 24 Commonwealth Games

2014         STV Evening News Commonwealth Games

2014         BBC 2 ‘Scotland 2014’ Commonwealth Games

2013        The Culture Studio Live BBC Radio Scotland with Sanjeev Kholi

2010        Flag Handover Ceremony Commonwealth Games, Delhi

2009        Filming, Made in Scotland STV Designing The Michie Tartan

2008        BBC Radio Scotland ‘The Radio Café’ Mackintosh CAT Exhibition                               Huntarian Gallery Glasgow University 5th September 2008

2006        BBC Radio Scotland ‘The Radio Café’ re: Jean Muir Legacy, NMS, 6th                           June          

2006        BBC Radio Scotland ‘The Radio Café’ re: EIFF April 25th 

2005        Larry Hoff Show, WB11 New York, USA

Publications

Selvedge “Slash And Show” issue 72, 2016

Selvedge “The Realities of Being a Designer” issue 70, 2016

Sunday Herald Life ‘Well Plaid’ 16th November 2014

Sunday Herald, ‘Unveilled: the woman who will design Scotland’s Commonwealth Games parade costumes’. 21st July 2013

Glasgow Herald, ‘Stylish Living’ Magazine, June 2012

Scotland on Sunday, ‘Spectrum’ Magazine, 27th May 2012

Craft arts International, ‘Threads of Emancipation’ Nov/Dec 2011

Embroidery, ‘Weaving the National Identity’ May/June 2011

The Glasgow Herald, Scottish Artist at the Saatchi Gallery, 17th May 2010

The Sunday Times, Ecosse 14th February 2010

The Scotsman Magazine ‘Crafty Characters’ 30th January 2010

Selvedge Scottish Designers Sept/Oct 09

The List ‘How did you get this Job’ 14/21th Aug 08

Selvedge ‘New Designers’  Issue 23, May/June 08

Surface Design, ‘The Girl In The Hat’ Summer 07, USA

Elle Decoration, France, April 2007 L’Ecosse Cote’ Ouest

The Herald, ‘Sew Far So Good’ Friday 26th January 2007

The Scotsman, Friday 26th January 2007, ‘A Cut Above’

‘Jewelry’ in Fashion Trends, The Art of the Commission January 2007, USA

The Scotsman Magazine, Modern Treasure January 13th 2007

The Herald, ‘Strictly Expensive’ November 30th 2006

Le Monde. Fr ‘Les Jeune Creayeurs Ecossais Jouent avec Les Stanards’ 16th May 2006

‘Jewelry’ in Fashion Trends, Hanging with Jilli Blackwood, Premier Issue, USA

Evening Times, Style, ‘Glasgow’s my City of Inspiration’ 28th Oct 05

Stern Magazine July 05 About Glasgow Germany

Lecturing

2019        European Craft Exhibition at Kuwait National Museum, Kuwait

2019        Dundee Embroiderers’ Guild

2018        Craft Scotland 2018 Conference, National Museums, Scotland

2018        Gallery of Modern Art Glasgow, Creative Industry Series

2017        Dumfries Embroiderers’ Guild

2016        Naked Craft Synposium, The Barony Centre, West Kilbride UK

2016        Helensburgh Art Club, Argyll

2016        ‘Design outside the lines’ Retreat, Santa Barbara, California

2015         The Glasgow Embroiderers Guild

2015        The Riverside Museum, Glasgow, ‘Meet the Makers’ Designers from the                   Glasgow Games

2015         The West of Scotland Weavers Dyers and Spinners Glasgow

2014         Glasgow Society of Women Artists

2014         The Riverside Museum Glasgow, ‘The Yellow Brick Road’              

2012        ‘The Confidence Trick’, St Paul’s Pollok Glasgow,

2012        The Burrell Collection, Glasgow, November

2011        The Craft Show, Philadelphia, USA

Workshops

2019           Edinburgh Embroiderers’ Guild

2018          ‘Art House’ Ladybank UK, Tendrils

2016           West of Scotland Weavers Spinners and Dyers

2012        Glasgow Academy, Lecture and Textile Workshop,

2010/09/08    Inspiration Festival Glasgow The Glasgow Union Commonwealth Flag,

2009/10/11    Tartan Design Workshop, St Ambrose High School, Coatbridge, Glasgow

2009/10    All Saints Secondary, Glasgow, ‘Working with an Artist’

2008/09    The Big Lottery Project, Barrhead, Youth Group,