Mick Lindberg: For Theirs But to Do and Dye
Mick Lindberg’s latest exhibition, Theirs But to Do and Dye, presents an exploration of European women’s history through the medium of textile art. Running from 8 March to 26 April at David Simon Contemporary, this solo exhibition showcases intricate, hand-stitched compositions that reimagine the lives and legacies of influential women from the 16th to the 19th centuries. With a deep reverence for historical narratives and a lifelong passion for fabric, Lindberg brings these figures to life, blending artistic storytelling with a tactile connection to the past.
Hester Lucy Stanhope Queen of the Desert, Textile
It is not unexpected for any female artist to have a lifelong fascination with the histories of women, and over the past eighteen months, Lindberg has been absorbed in the stories of European women of importance, creating imagined portraits in a deeply personal response. The subjects of her work range from Italian aristocrats to French poets, courtiers to courtesans - each chosen for their particular resonance with the artist. These women, often navigating the constraints of their eras and gender, found ways to express their power and creativity despite the societal limitations they faced. Their stories unfold boldly in Lindberg’s compositions, capturing the strength, complexity, and individuality of each woman through antique and vintage fabrics, montaged photographic fabric prints, and hand-stitching.
Lucrezia de Medici, 1545 - 1561, textile.
Born in Sweden in 1950, Lindberg’s love of textiles and stitch was nurtured by her mother and grandmother. Her creative journey has taken her from a successful career in modelling and photography to a deeply personal practice as a textile artist. She has exhibited extensively in London, as well as in New Mexico, New York, and Bath, with her work included in the permanent collections of the British Council and Falmouth Art Gallery.
Reflecting on her process, Lindberg describes how she often receives bags and boxes of vintage fabrics from friends - materials long hidden in attics and basements, waiting to be rediscovered. “From such a fragment of cloth, sometimes a whole character emerges, like a genie from a bottle,” she explains. “The fabric fragments from friends give me a sense of continuity, where I’m allowed to stitch my own story… in between the layering of memory and time.”
L.J. Robiquet, Textile.
Feminist in nature but subtle in execution, her work is a form of storytelling that honours the resilience and creativity of women throughout history. In Theirs But to Do and Dye, Lindberg invites us to engage with these figures, stitched into being with patience, reverence, and artistic mastery.
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Further Information:
Instagram: @lindbergmick
For Theirs But to Do and Dye is showing now until 26th April at David Simon Contemporary, 37 High Street, Castle Cary, Somerset, BA7 7AW
Exhibition Talk:
INTERWOVEN: Lucy Quantrill-Simon talks about MICK LINDBERG's latest exhibition
MONDAY 24 MARCH, 3-4pm
David Simon Contemporary, Castle Cary BA7 7AW
A walk through this latest exhibition by Mick Lindberg, giving an insight into the stories behind the characters included in her compositions. Lucy trained in music and vocal performance with a particular interest in 18th century opera, and the lives of historical female figures in art and life.
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Image Credits:
Lead Image: Catherine of Braganza Queen of Tea-drinking, Textile, Copyright the artist.
1/ Hester Lucy Stanhope Queen of the Desert, Textile, Copyright the artist.
2/ Lucrezia de Medici, 1545 - 1561, Textile, Copyright the artist.
3/ L.J. Robiquet, Textile, Copyright the artist.