Visit our new textile exhibition in Gallery 3 which opens on Saturday 8 November.
Lynn Setterington is an ethnographic embroiderer who engages with the world through stitch. Her socially engaged practice explores some of the key issues of our time and for more than five decades she has documented life using textile methods.
Setterington has collaborated with communities worldwide and her work combines popular culture, folk art and the everyday. She makes extraordinary, inclusive artworks that shine a light on overlooked people, history and culture.
Her approach draws on Tirzah Garwood’s notion of the ‘sophisticated naive’, and she embraces uncertainty and risk taking rather than striving for perfection. Stitching for Setterington is a global communication device, a well-being strategy and a connector and most importantly, tactile evidence acknowledging ‘we are here’.
This exhibition showcases a snapshot of work from her prolific career. The textiles range from tiny 1980’s embroideries which document place, to the gigantic World Wellbeing Map made with Speak English learners in Oldham library in 2024 to raise awareness of rising sea temperatures.
Five quilts have also been loaned for the first time from museum collections in the UK and are shown together in this exhibition.
The exhibition opens Saturday, 8 November with a special launch event held at 2pm. It is a chance to meet the artist as she talks about her work and inspirations. The event is free and open to all, with no booking required.
Connecting Threads 2 is on display at Gallery Oldham from 8 November 2025 until Saturday 7 March 2026.
