The 62 Group of Textile Artists was formed sixty years ago in 1962 and was known as ‘The 62 Group of Embroiderers’. It was originally created to act as a support for its members and to promote textile art through exhibition, education, and the exchange of ideas. The 62 Group still aims to innovate and inspire but has expanded its scope to include all textile disciplines: surface, stitched, constructed and more. While today’s members embrace a wide spectrum of processes, approaches and ideas, the fundamentals of a rigorous selection process and focus on exhibiting high-quality work, remain.
In this sixtieth anniversary exhibition, members explore the Essence of their textile practice. What is the intrinsic nature of their creative work? What is it that motivates and inspires? What is fundamental to their thinking and making? The exhibition features one small work (measuring no more than 30 x 30 x 30cm) from each member, encapsulating the Essence of their individual practice. The exhibition can be viewed as a whole, as a survey of contemporary textile art today or as a series of individual distillations capturing the soul, spirit and lifeblood of the group in 2022.
The 62 Group is an artist-led organisation. We aim to incorporate and challenge the boundaries of textile practice through an ambitious and innovative annual programme of exhibitions. Membership is open to those of any age, gender or nationality working in any textile media worldwide and applications for new members are considered annually. If you are interested in joining the 62 Group you can learn about the application process on their website. www.62group.org.uk