Kate Just, CLOTHES PORTRAITS
(2018-ongoing)
Clothes Portraits are an ongoing series of hand and machine sewn hanging textile works. Each portrait portrays an artist, usually for whom textiles and clothing form an important part of their work or self-expression. Artists portrayed are: Zamara Zamara, Kay Abude, Paul Yore, Gavin Brown, Penelope Davis, Jan Murray, Kate Just, and Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran. Constructed from donated collections of each artist’s well-worn clothes, the portraits refer to clothing as a social fabric that bears the memories, experiences and identity of each wearer over time. Picturing mostly women or queer identifying people through their clothes, the works also consider the political significance of fashion in asserting a bodily presence, power or comfort in the world and in one’s skin. The scale and hanging of the works reference banners, flags or quilts, emblematic stand-ins for each person. The craft and devotion in making each portrait belies an intimate relation to, or deep respect for, each artist portrayed.
- Kate Just