Kate Larkin YeeBai Textile Artist

Media: Textiles

Exhibition and News

Exhibiting and an opportunity to meet the artist at LSA Artroom as part of Springboard Studios in the Royal Priors, Lower mall. 

 

Exhibition Title: Water Water Everywhere Venue: Leamington Art Gallery and Museum The Royal Pump Rooms, Leamington Spa Website: www.leamingtonartgallery.com Dates: March 2023 – April 2024 Exhibition Overview: Water Water Everywhere celebrates the vital role that water plays in Leamington’s history and culture. Situated alongside the River Leam, the gallery is uniquely positioned to explore the history of water-based therapies that have been part of the Royal Pump Rooms for almost 200 years. This exhibition brings together objects and artworks from the collection, showcasing both historical and contemporary perspectives on water’s role in healing, recreation, and the natural environment.

Exhibition Title: Lost Leamington Venue: Leamington Art Gallery and Museum The Royal Pump Rooms, Leamington Spa Website: www.leamingtonartgallery.com Dates: April 2023 – January 2024 Exhibition Overview: Lost Leamington uncovers the hidden and forgotten aspects of Leamington Spa’s history, taking visitors on a journey through the town’s lost landmarks, events, and cultural moments. From vanished buildings to changes in local industries, this exhibition explores what has been lost to time and how these changes have shaped the modern town we see today. The exhibition features archival photographs, maps, personal stories, and art pieces that reveal a Leamington that no longer exists or has been altered beyond recognition. 

Biography

Kate Larkin is a self-taught textile artist and photographer whose work seamlessly integrates hand embroidery and photography. Specializing in embroidery, Kate pushes the boundaries of this traditionally craft-based art form, challenging conventions and exploring new possibilities. She has exhibited her work in notable venues such as Leamington Art Gallery and Museum, where her photography was featured in the Water, Water Everywhere exhibition, focusing on her deep connection to derelict buildings and documenting the changes in her town over the past 40+ years. Her embroidery was also showcased in the Lost Leamington exhibition, where she presented a large-scale hand-embroidered aerial view map of Leamington Spa. Kate’s love for textiles began early in her life, as she grew up exploring fabric, cotton, and button boxes, alongside developing a keen interest in photography. Kate uses century-old embroidery techniques and photography to create contemporary works that transcend traditional boundaries. Her creative process challenges the classification of embroidery as merely a craft, instead elevating it as an art form in its own right. A significant part of Kate’s practice is her I Am series of embroideries, which confronts traditional notions of embroidery as “women’s work.” This series explores feminist themes, offering a powerful reimagining of women’s bodies and experiences. Inspired by historical representations of women as passive and submissive, the I Am series symbolically challenges these outdated conventions by depicting women as empowered, owning their space and creativity. This series has been exhibited at both The Herbert Gallery and Leamington Art Gallery and Museum Through her intricate needle and thread work, Kate creates detailed depictions that invite viewers to engage with the natural world, exploring the encounters we have with it. Her embroideries are not just beautiful artworks but also narratives that encourage reflection, inviting the eye to explore the layers and meanings woven within. Kate continues to push the boundaries of what embroidery can represent, making her mark as a contemporary textile artist who blends tradition with innovation.

Get in touch