Samantha Sutherland

I use free-motion embroidery to explore the boundaries and push the limits between traditional craft and contemporary fine art. My current work expresses my deeply personal connection to the ocean and coastal forests, capturing the coastal landscapes that bring me a profound sense of peace. I first picked up a sewing machine during a challenging period as a full-time caregiver for my daughter, and it quickly became my escape for creative reflection. 

By using fabrics ranging from heavy velvet upholstery fabric to iridescent sheers and fine netting – my passion is creating artwork that shows energy and movement in the ocean and wind whipping through the grasses and trees. Using a sewing needle like a paintbrush, I layer, stitch, and pull threads to transform flat textile pieces into three-dimensional landscapes full of movement, depth, and life, so I can take the viewer with me to the coast.