Co-Stitch has an exhibition as part of the 2024 Bristol Photo Festival – An international photography festival shaped by the movements of the city.

Weaving Narratives

Stitching as a form of storytelling, with artists Nilupa Yasmin & Jessa Fairbrother. 

In collaboration with Bristol Photo Festival we have commissioned two photographic artists, Nilupa Yasmin and Jessa Fairbrother, who both have a long-standing relationship to textile making. The artists have each created a new collaborative project, working with the co-stitch participant groups across the city, with a particular focus on diasporic communities who have arrived in Bristol seeking refuge.

“The festival’s commissioning program is a highlight of this edition, showcasing the dynamic collaboration between local and international artists with community groups across the city. This year, Jessa and Nilupa have created deeply intimate and complementary series that beautifully emphasize the social and cultural significance of this craft for women.” Alejandro Acin, Bristol Photo Festival, Festival Director

The Artists:

• Nilupa Yasmin is an award-winning artist and educator, who often produces work collaboratively with others. Her work explores ideals and traditions that are close to home, often drawing upon her own British-Bangladeshi culture and heritage. Her work is included in many public collections including: the Government Art Collection, The New Art Gallery Walsall and Birmingham Museums Collection. She is a Lecturer in Photography at Coventry University and a studio holder at Grand Union, Birmingham.
• Jessa Fairbrother is a British artist based in Bristol, UK. Often starting with the theme of the body, her work encompasses photography, performance and stitch. The artist book of her work ‘Conversations with my mother’ is held in collections at Tate Britain, the V&A, London and The Museum of Fine Art, Houston. Her work is also held in the collections of the Yale Center for British Art and Bristol Museum & Art Gallery.

The exhibition will be available to view for a month from the 7th October – 14th December in Royal Fort Gardens, University of Bristol, Tyndall Ave, Bristol BS8 1UH.