Layers of Meaning

Gavin Fry - Embroidery Shock

Gavin Fry has two degrees in art and textiles from outstanding British universities, but now earns a living as a mental health professional and pursues his art in what he calls 'Sunday embroiderer' status. Twisted Thread described Fry's work at the Knitting and Embroidery Show 2004: "There is no set format in his work, and technique is employed according to the desired effect rather than for its own sake. He describes his pieces as collages. He uses imagery which isn't intended to shock, but to tell a story. He reinvents the familiar to challenge myths and he says, 'sex rears its ugly head to laugh at life and death'."

Fiberart Gallery in Cornwall features an online exhibition of several of Fry's small witty pieces. It is simply captioned: "Hand embroidery commenting on contemporary issues using masculine images."