Sabine Kaner
Stroud, Gloucestershire, UK
I am a mixed media artist working with hand stitch, colour, print, and repurposed fabrics. My stitched illustrations explore stories of migration, identity, memory, and the human condition. Each piece is layered with metaphors, symbols, and narrative intention, offering a space where personal and collective histories intersect.
Drawing on the tactile language of cloth, I use embroidery, appliqué, and collage to construct abstract compositions that echo both traditional textile practices and contemporary storytelling. The contrast between textured, raised surfaces and the flatter, graphic qualities of print and stitch allows me to play with visual tension—inviting the viewer to look closely and reflect on what is revealed and what remains hidden.
Recurring motifs, fragmented forms, and stitched lines become acts of resistance and recovery. In my smaller pieces, I use colour and mark-making to create standalone patterns that resonate with emotional tone and symbolic meaning. No pattern is ever innocent: each carries the imprint of a place, a person, or a story.
My work is rooted in the belief that fabric can hold memory, and that through stitch, we can connect, question, and remember. It is both personal and political—a quiet protest sewn into the seams.
Photographs: by the artist