Tracey Lawko

I use contemporary textile techniques to showcase changes in our physical and socio-political environments. Building on a base of traditional hand-embroidery, hand-guided longarm stitching, and a love of drawing, my representational work is detailed and “drawn with thread.” My nature studies draw attention to the importance of native pollinators as I observe them around my studio in the Niagara Escarpment UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. Many are stitched using centuries-old three-dimensional Stumpwork techniques. My large-scale conceptual work, focused on changes wrought by human influence, incorporates three-dimensional sculptural techniques using wire and other materials. I am the lead artist and curator of the collaborative artwork “Reflections of Ourselves,” which celebrates the rich cultural heritage of Canadians. My work is held in the permanent collection of the US National Quilt Museum and private collections in North America and Europe.