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Professor Alice Kettle

Professor of Textile Arts

Professor Alice Kettle

Alice Kettle is a contemporary textile/fibre artist based in the UK. She has established a unique area of practice by her use of a craft medium, consistently and on an unparalleled scale.

Her stitched works, many the size of huge figurative tapestries, exploit the textures and effects made possible through the harnessing of a mechanical process to intuitive and creative ends.

She is currently a Professor in Textile Arts in MIRIAD Manchester School of Art at Manchester Metropolitan University.

Her work is represented in various public collections such as the Crafts Council London, the Whitworth Art Gallery in Manchester, the Museo Internationale delle Arti Applicate Oggi, Turin, Italy. Commissions include the National Library of Australia, the Scottish High Court in Edinburgh, Gloucester and Winchester Cathedrals and the School of Music & Drama at Manchester University.

Projects

Allegory

Nov 2009 –March 2010 The Crafts Study centre Farnham, University of the Creative Arts and UK tour The exhibition takes as its starting point the great painting by Poussin A Dance to the Music of Time in the Wallace collection, London. Alice Kettle brings her formidable skill and a dramatic painterly sense of colour and narrative to bear on this painting to create a remarkable sequence of machine-stitched works. Details…

Collaboration Through Craft

The publication ‘Collaboration through Craft’ investigates the current theoretical debates about the collaborative/social power of craft (e.g. Details…

India Residency

01/07/11 – 14/07/11 Arts Reverie In Ahmedebad India with Pushpa Kumari. As part A Fine Line’s ongoing ‘Craft (Made in India): Who Cares?’ and MIRIAD Manchester School of Art. Details…

Loss

Loss New project with Jules Findley Chichester Cathedral 2012 A project which explores issues of loss. The project focuses on personal loss and the wider context of loss reflecting social political agendas. Details…

Lost Certainty

Contemporary Applied Arts London Claire Curneen and Alice Kettle 06/05/11 - 11/06/11 Whilst we are distinctly ourselves in this exhibition at CAA there are nevertheless reflections and musings between each of the individual pieces. Since both artist’s work is figurative in theme, there is something of a conversation between works both as single subjects and within the collective group. Details…

Machine Embroidery Perspectives

A key reference on machine embroidery co authored with Jane McKeating. This volume will show the range of embroidery practice evident in the embroidery programme at Manchester School of Art, and include contributions from various members of staff and samples from the programme archive. Details…

Making Stories IBook

Making stories by Alice Kettle Insa Langhorst Huw Wahl “Craft can offer methods of enquiry, can transform modes of learning in schools and can teach us to examine how we live in a material world.” In October 2012 the Making It project brought crafts makers, educators and the general public together in a three day event of workshops, live demonstrations and talks that was buzzing with energy. Details…

Telling Fortunes

[b[Platt Hall Gallery of Costume, Manchester 15th September to 31st December 2010[/b[ Alice Kettle has drawn on the Gallery of Costumes' collections of gloves and embroidery to inspire her latest piece of work. She finds Platt Hall “a treasure trove; magical, awe inspiring [and] a compendium of textile history and the stories of lives passed. Details…

The Discovery Centre, WInchester

Winchester Discovery Centre, Textile Commission January 2006-July 2007 A major public artwork in embroidery, commissioned on a scale which has never previously been undertaken. This commission will receive widespread coverage through the media and offers the opportunity to extend the range of stitch practice into architectural spaces and on a significant scale. Details…

The Garden of England

The research investigates ornamentation and symbolism in textile motif to define status and signify identity. The investigation enquires into the status of women within marriage in formalised societal structures and its representation in textile. Details…

Thread Bearing Witness

The Whitworth, Manchester Sept 2018 –April 2019 A major two venue project presenting new monumental textile works considering refugee displacement and movement. It includes significant new works by Alice Kettle & collaborative works with refugees from Dunkirk, North West & South England made through contribution and co-creation. Details…

‘Mythscapes’

A major solo touring exhibition of a group of work based on Homer’s epic poem ‘The Odyssey’. ‘Alice Kettle explores and pushes the technical boundaries of embroidery, challenging our preconceptions and revolutionising textiles as an art form. Details…

Research

Alice Kettle is a member of the Design Research Hub.

Exhibitions

Kettle, AM., 2024. Slipware, Crafts Study Centre, Farnham.

Jenkinson, J., Khan, F., Earnshaw, J., Kettle, A., Wahid, M., 2022. Reclaiming the Narrative: Portrait Youth, British Muslim Heritage Centre, 22/10/2022 - 27/10/2022.

Kettle, A., 2018. Odyssey, Southampton City Art Gallery, 6/10/2018 - 9/3/2019.

Chambers, S., Cooper, E., Farthing, S., Nash, D., Green, N., 2017. Good Nature, Candida Stevens Gallery, 16/9/2017 - 28/10/2017.

Kettle, 2017. Made in Translation, The Portico Library, Manchester, 27/4/2017.

Kettle, A., 2016. A Place at the Table, Pallant House Gallery, Chichester, 25th November 2014 – 18th January 2015.

Leclercq, A., 2016. Chemins Croises, World Crafts Council, 17/4/2016 - 14/8/2016.

Kettle, AM., 2016. Here and Now - Stitches in Time, Circus Consultancy, London, 12/1/2016 - 31/3/2016.

Lee, C., 2016. Korea Bojagi Forum, Suwon Hwaseong, Seoul, Korea, 1/9/2016 - 5/9/2016.

Kettle, A., 2016. More Academic Choice, Crafts Study Centre, UCA Farnham, 29 March to 10 December 2016.

Kettle, A., 2015. Academic Choice, Crafts Study Centre, Farnham, 30/6/2015 - 19/3/2016.

Kettle, AM., Brown, V., Grimshaw, D., Egan, K., Cocchiarella, F., 2014. A Place at the Table, Pallant House Gallery, Chichester, 25/11/2014 - 18/1/2015.

Kettle, A., 2014. Design Shanghai, Shanghai , China, feb 2014.

McKeating, J., 2014. Scenes of Change, L'Aguille en Fete, Paris, February 2014.

Duffy, J., 2014. The Fire and The Rose, Vertical Gallery Manchester, November 2014.

Kettle, A., 2014. Unravelled at Uppark, Uppark, May-Sept 2014.

Kettle, A., 2013. 10 days in the City, Collaboration with Stephen Cooper, Winchester Cathedral,, November 2013.

Kettle, A., 2013. Alice Kettle, ANU School of Art, Australia, Sept/oct 2012.

Kettle, A., 2013. Fix, Fix, Fix, Gallery So, London, Feb -April 2013.

McKeating, J., 2013. Hand stitch Perspectives, L'Aguille en Fete, Paris, 13/02/13 - 17/02/13.

Kettle, A., 2013. Material Responses, Rashnagar Mill, Ahemedebad India, Sept 2013.

Kettle, A., 2013. Pairings, Contemporary Applied Arts, London, May 2013.

Kettle, A., 2013. Scratch, Scribble, Scrawl, Aspex Gallery, Portsmouth, Oct- Nov 2013.

Kettle, A., 2013. Seamless, Museum of Art, Llubjana, October 2013.

Kettle, A., 2013. The Garden of England, The Queens House, The National Maritime Museum Greenwich London, MArch - August 2013.

Kettle, A., 2012. Cotton Exchange project, Global Threads,, Queens Mill Burnley Lancs, 2012.

Kettle, A., 2012. European Prize for Applied Arts, World Crafts Council, Brussels, 14 July – 9 September 2012.

McKeating, J., 2012. Hand Stich Perspectives, Knitting and stitching show Alexander palace London, Harrogate and Dublin, October -November 2012.

Kettle, A., 2012. Loss, Chichester Cathedral, Feb -march 2012.

McKeating, J., 2012. Machine stitch Perspectives 2, L'aguille en Fete, Paris, February 2012.

Kettle, A., 2012. Make Believe Make, Portsmouth City Art Gallery, curated by Aspex Gallery, oct -nov 2012.

Webb, J., 2012. Pairings II, Contemporary Applied Arts, London, March.

O'Neill, C. J., Kettle, Alice, 2012. Pairings II Conversations & Collaborations, Museum in the Park, Stroud, May 2012.

McKeating, J., 2012. Pairings II: conversations and collaborations, Stroud International Textiles, Park Gallery, Stroud, April - may 2012.

Kettle, A., 2012. The Shape of Touch, Merston Gallery, W, Sussex, May- June 2012.

Kettle, A., 2011. Ahmedebad International Arts Festival, India, Ahmedebad, India, 2011.

Kettle, A., 2011. For some must watch, while some must sleep: So runs the world away,, Belger Arts Centre, Kansas City USA, 2011.

Kettle, A., 2011. KAUNAS BIENNIAL TEXTILE'11 Rewind-Play-Forward,, Kaunas Art GAllery, Lithuania, oct.dec 2011.

Kettle, A., 2011. Lost Certainty,, CAA London, May- June 2011.

Webb, J., 2011. Pairings, MMU Special Collections, Otter Gallery Chichester, Fairfield Mill, Cumbria, September 2010 -.

Kettle, A., 2011. The Drawn Line, Extending the Line,, Holden Gallery Manchester, Asian Manchester Festival, Oct-Nov 2011.

Kettle, A., 2010. 7th International Triennale of Tournai, Woven World, Belgium, 2011.

McKeating, J., 2010. Machine Stitch Perspectives, Knitting and Stitching show, London, Harrogate and Dublin, Sept 2010 - Nov 2010.

O'Neill, C. J., Kettle, Alice, 2010. Pairings, Special Collections Gallery, Manchester, September 2010 - Jan 2011.

Felcey, H., 2010. Place Settings: Helen Felcey / Alice Kettle, Special Collections, MMU, August 2008.

Kettle, A., 2010. Telling Fortunes, Solo exhibition, Platt Hall, Museum of Costume, Manchester City Art Galleries, Oct2010- Jan 2011.

Kettle, A., 2010. The Narrative Line, The National Gallery, Crafts Council of Ireland, Kilkenny, and tour, 2010-11.

Kettle, A., 2009. A Pause in the Rhythm of Time, Belger Arts Centre, Kansas City, Surface Design Association, USA, 2009.

Kettle, A., 2009. Allegory solo exhibiton, Craft Study Centre, Farnham and tour, 2009-2011.

Kettle, A., 2008. Art of the Stitch, The Waterhall, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery,, 15 March to 15 June.

Kettle, A., 2008. Fabricate, Rye Museum and Art Gallery, 7th March-30th May.

Kettle, A., 2008. Select, Grace Barrand Design Centre, Surrey, 19th Jan -1st March.

Kettle, A., 2008. The Fabric of Myth, Compton Verney, Warwickshire, 21 June - 7 Sept.

Dixon, S., 2007. '200 Years: Slavery Now', Bluecoat Display Centre, Liverpool., 19 October to 17 November.

Kettle, A., 2007. Applied Art in Architecture, Bluecoat Display Centre, Liverpool, 2nd -31st March.

Kettle, A., 2007. Collect, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, feb 2007.

The Dreams of Urim and Thummin

Kettle, A., 2007. Inspired, Grace Barrand Design Centre, 27th January 2006-7th March 2007.

Kettle, A., 2007. Mechanical drawing, Schiffli project, Holden Gallery, MMU, Manchester and tour, 16th Nov - 14th Dec.

Kettle, A., 2007. Stitched Stories, Journeys in Thread, Drumcroon Arts centre, Wigan, 17th Sept - 14th Dec.

Kettle, A., 2007. Threads : Looping back and moving forwards and in between., Manchester School of Art.

Kettle, A., 2006. Alice Kettle, Salisbury Arts Centre, 8th February-8th March.

NirwanNirwan

Kettle, A., 2006. Art of the Stitch, Royal West of England Academy, Bristol, The Hub, Sleaford, Williamson Art Gallery and Museum, Birkenhead, May -November 2006.

Kettle, A., 2006. SOFA with Bluecoat Display centre, Chicago, USA, 10 - 12 November 2006.

Kettle, A., 2005. Art Loan Collection, Link Gallery, University of Winchester, March 2005.

Kettle, A., 2005. Celebrating 30 Years of the Crafts Council at the V&A Museum, Victoria And Albert Museum, London, June 2005.

Kettle, A., 2005. Collect, represented by Contemporary Applied Arts London, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, Jan 2005.

Kettle, A., 2005. International Art Embroidery Challenge, Pfaff ,1st prize Winner juried exhibition, Knitting & Stitching Show, Alexandra Palace, London, October 2005.

Kettle, A., 2004. Art Embroidery Pfaff, Knitting And Stitching Show, Alexandra Palace and Musee du Textile, Parc de Wesserling, France, October 2004 and June 2005.

Kettle, A., 2004. Collect, represented by FibreArts Gallery, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, Feb 2004.

Kettle, A., 2003. Alice Kettle,, Featured Artist, the Knitting And Stitching Show, Alexandra Palace London, Dublin and Harrogate, October/November 2003.

Kettle, A., 2003. Hand To Eye, Southern Arts Visual Index, the Winchester Gallery, Making it Work touring exhibition, Bedales Gallery, Petersfield, The WInchester Gallery, SouthHill Park Bracknell, Oxfordshire Museum Woodstock, Russell-Coates Museum, Bournemouth, Reading Museum, Harley Gallery, Sept 2003-2005.

Kettle, A., 2003. Masterpieces International Exhibition, World Crafts Council, Palazzo Bricherasio, Turin, Italy, December 2003.

Rite of Passage, detailBag of Winds, detailBag of WindsLotos Eaters , detailLotos EatersRite of Passage

Kettle, A., 2003. Mythscapes, Bankfield Museum, Halifax, MAC Birmingham, The Gallery Ruthin, Southampton Art Gallery, Hove Art Gallery, Brewery Arts Kendal, South Hill Park Bracknell, Cheltenham Art Gallery, Grace Barrand Design Centre, Myles Meehan Gallery, Harley Gallery Worksop, January 2003- November 2005.

Kettle, A., 2003. Prism, Mall Galleries, London, Feb 2003.

Artefacts

Kettle, A., 2018. 'The 11th China Embroidery Culture and Arts Festival', Hanshan Art Museum, Hangzhou, China.

Kettle, A., 2016. 'The Dog Loukanikos and the Cat’s Cradle’', Textile work, Collect with Contemporary Applied Arts, Saatchi Gallery London, VAS:t, Scottish Royal Society of Arts, invited artist, Here and Now, Circus performance Alice Kettle, Circus and CAA Gallery, London, 2015, 2015 and 2016.

Kettle, AM., 2016. 'Where is Jack Space Man', World Crafts Council.

Kettle, A., 2015. 'Map to the Future', Large wall hung site specific artefact, Lloyd’s Register, Marine Technology Centre, University of Southampton.

Kettle, AM., 2015. 'Map to the Future', Marine Technology Centre, Lloyds Register, University of Southampton.

Kettle, AM., Aubrey, A., Ravetz, A., 2015. 'The Dog Loukanikos and the Cat's Cradle'', VAS:t, Scottish Royal Society of Arts, invited artist, Royal Academy Edinburgh.

Kettle, AM., Aubrey, K., 2015. 'Thread as a chronicle of contemporary political and symbolic narrative', Craft Now, Shipley Art Gallery, Gateshead;, Collect, Saatchi Gallery London ;VAS:T, Scottish Royal Academy of Art, Edinburgh;.

Kettle, AM., 2014. 'Golden Dawn', Collect, Saatchi Gallery, London represented by Contemporary Applied Arts Gallery, London.

Kettle, A., 2012. 'Sail for Boat project', Margate Welcomes the Boat Project, Cultural olympiad, the Boat project, July 2012.

Kettle, A., 2010. 'Birth of the Motive in Clouds', Textile wallhanging commission, School of Music and Drama, University of Manchester, 2010-11.

Kettle, A., 2010. 'Head', Stitched artwork, Riga International Textile and Fibre Art Triennal, Global Intrigue, Museum of Decorative Art and Design, Latvia, 2010.

Kettle, A., 2010. 'Wisdom ond Lor', Wallhanging commission, University of Winchester, 2010.

Kettle, A., 2007. 'Looking Forwards to the Past', Major Public Commission for Winchester Discovery Centre, Winchester Discovery Centre, installed Nov 2007.

Books

Hitchen, J., Kettle, A., Penny, D., Moss, J., 2017. 'Made In Translation.', MMU and The Portico Library, Manchester.

Ravetz, A., 2013. 'Collaboration Through Craft', Bloomsbury Academic, London.

Kettle, A., 2013. 'making Stories', Electric Imprint, Winchester.

Kettle, A., 2012. 'Hand Stitch Perspectives', Bloomsbury, London.

Kettle, A., 2010. 'Machine Stitch Perspectives', A&C Black, London.

Kettle, A., 2006. 'Eye-openers', Cultural Services Division, Winchester City Council.

Book Chapters

Kettle, A., Felcey, H., Ravetz, A., 2020. 'In the Bee Hive: Valuing Craft in the Creative Industries'. In Artistic Research in Performance through Collaboration, pp. 75-93, Springer International Publishing.

Kettle, AM., 2016. 'The Shaping of Dreams'. In Figueiredo, D., Steene, M. (eds.) Radical Craft, pp. 6-8, Craftspace, Birmingham.

Webb, J., Kettle, A., 2014. 'A Stitch in Time: historical authenticity and site-specific textiles'. In Outside: Activating Cloth to Enhance the Way we Live, Cambridge Scholars Publishing.

Webb, J., 2013. '"Triangulation: Working towards a Practice of Collaboration"'. In A. Ravetz, H. Felcey, A. Kettle (eds.) Collaboration Through Craft, Berg: Oxford.

Kettle, A., 2005. 'Alice Kettle'. In Diana Springall (eds.) Inspired to Stitch 21 Textile Artists, A & C Black.

Kettle, A., 2004. 'Alice Kettle'. In Visions of Art, Anderson & Butenschon, Sweden.

Kettle, A., 2004. 'Australian Landscapes I-IV Alice Kettle'. In Paul Cliff (eds.) A Different View, 8, pages 81-91, National Library of Australia, Canberra, Australia.

Kettle, A., 2002. 'The Cycle of Creativity, Alice Kettle-Chagall Column, The Inner Space of the Object'. In Edited and written by Professor Paul Foster (eds.) Chagall Glass at Chichester and Tudeley, 4, pages 79-91, Otter Memorial Paper, University College Chichester.

Journal Articles

Kettle, A., 2020. 'Book Review: Perspectives on Work, Home and Identity from Artisans in Telangana: Conversations around Craft', Craft Research, 11 (1), pp. 143-147.

Blakey, S., 2011. 'A Lull in the Conversation', Ceramic Review, Issue 249, Page 50.

Kettle, A., 2007. 'Voyage of discovery', Embroidery, 58 (JULY/AUG.), pp. 14-17.

Kettle, A., 2005. 'Greek Myths: Reinterpretations by Carol Shinn and Alice Kettle', Surface Design Journal, Volume 30 No 1 fall 2005, pages 18-23.

Kettle, A., 2005. 'New Commission for Manchester', Embroidery, Volume 56 July/August 2005, 8.

Kettle, A., 2004. 'Getting A Different View', National Library of Australia News, Volume XIV Number 8 June 2004, Cover, Back Cover, pages 3-5.

Kettle, A., 2004. 'Journey Through The Mythscapes, The Work of Alice Kettle', Embroidery, 55, Cover and 12,-15.

Kettle, A., Foster.F, 2003. 'Glorious Colour, Alice Kettle's Chagall Column', Embroidery, Volume 54, July 2003, pages 34-35.

Kettle, A.Peacock,J, Hawkesley,R, Richards, V., 2003. 'The Poor Relation, Ecclesiastical Embroidery', Embroidery, Volume 54 July 2003, pages 36-39.

Kettle, A., 2001. 'Australian Landscapes I-IV Alice Kettle', Textile Fibre Forum, Volume 21 issue 1 No 61 2001, pages 34-35.

Kettle, A., 2001. 'The Textile Art of Alice Kettle', Craft Arts International, Issue 51, Cover.

Non-Peer Reviewed Articles

Kettle, A., 2019. 'Anni Albers', The Journal of Modern Craft, 12 (1), pp. 67-71.

Conference Papers

Kettle, A., 2018. 'In the Margins, Materialising Stories', 9/7/2018 - 9/7/2018.

Harper, P., Kettle, A., 2018. 'Making leaders/curating maker cultures', The Poetics of Leadership, Crossfields Institute, 7/9/2018 - 8/9/2018.

Kettle, AM., 2016. 'The Story and the Stitch', Cross Currents: Land, Labor and the Port, Savannah, USA, 19/10/2016 - 23/10/2016.

Kettle, AM., 2015. 'Walls, cloth and thread Key note speech', Textile Society Conference, The Whitworth Art Gallery, 7/11/2015 - 7/11/2015.

Presentations

Kettle, A., 2006. 'Telling Stories', Textile Collections and Creativity, North West Textile Forum, the Whitworth Art Gallery, 4th March 2006.

Kettle, A., 2005. 'Alice Kettle in Hand to Eye', Makings, Meanings, Materials, Slough, 26th January 2005, in Conference Papers.

Kettle, A., 2005. 'Alice Kettle, Journey to Mythscapes', 'Territories', Interface, University of Ulster, Ulster Museum, 14th March 2005, in Interface Document.

kettle.A, 2005. 'Sources of influence Alice Kettle', Ways of Seeing, Society of Art Historians, Tate Britain, London, 26th November 2005.

Kettle, A., 2004. 'Alice Kettle Journey to Mythscapes', Textile Symposium, The Gallery, Ruthin Craft Centre, October 2004.

Other Outputs

Millar, L., Kettle, A., 2018. 'The Erotic Cloth', Kettle, AM., Millar, L..

Adkins, L., Duffy, N., Aubrey, K., Kettle, A., Biggs, L., Williams, C., Bonnell, S., Royle, N., Bryne, E., McCullagh, J., Cooper, D., Raven, L., Dixon, S., Schoene, B., Evans, P., et al, 2009. 'Made in Translation'.

Kettle, A., 2006. 'All Saints Church Commission, Thorney Hill', commissioned artwork.

Kettle, A., 2006. 'Textile Artist of the Year', 1st Prize WInner.

Kettle, A., 2005. 'Chapel Piece, Bankfield Museum', Commissioned Art Work.

Red and Blue Movement in Three

Kettle, A., 2005. 'Red And Blue Movement in Three, The School of Music and Drama, The University of Manchester', Commissioned Work..

Kettle, A., 2004. 'Honorary Fellowship', University of WInchester.

Kettle, A., Foster, P, 2003. 'Alice Kettle and Chagall', illustrated leaflet catalogue.