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Kirsten

Harper

Born and raised in Edinburgh, I am a 2026 BA Hons Textile Design graduate from Glasgow School of Art with a specialism in Embroidery. My practice is motivated by texture, experimenting in transforming a textile’s qualities with the introduction of substances like wax or the removal of threads, as well as incorporating found materials such as vintage fur and animal bones. My graduate collection ‘Heirlooms’ emphasises tactility, both in its creation through hand manipulation and its resultant blend of sensorial textures. Complimenting the tactile materials, I have confined myself to solely hand techniques, creating texture and dimension through hand manipulation, weave and embellishment. Additionally, nearly all my materials, down to threads and yarn, have been sourced second-hand as part of my personal sustainable ethos and as a means of embedding past ‘relics’ into my work.

Location: Edinburgh

Materials: Embroidery, Found, Stitched, Woven

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GSA Showcase 2026

Born and raised in Edinburgh, I am a 2026 BA Hons Textile Design graduate from Glasgow School of Art with a specialism in Embroidery. My practice is motivated by texture, experimenting in transforming a textile’s qualities with the introduction of substances like wax or the removal of threads, as well as incorporating found materials such as vintage fur and animal bones. My graduate collection ‘Heirlooms’ emphasises tactility, both in its creation through hand manipulation and its resultant blend of sensorial textures. Complimenting the tactile materials, I have confined myself to solely hand techniques, creating texture and dimension through hand manipulation, weave and embellishment. Additionally, nearly all my materials, down to threads and yarn, have been sourced second-hand as part of my personal sustainable ethos and as a means of embedding past ‘relics’ into my work.

Previous Experience

Graduate Collection Statement: Exploring the decay, preservation and curation of objects, I found inspiration in the aging of old buildings like Rosslyn Chapel and Glasgow Cathedral, the methods of protecting and displaying artefacts in GSA’s Archives and through my own collection of oddities. My practice is motivated by texture, experimenting in transforming a textile’s qualities with the introduction of substances like wax or the removal of threads, as well as incorporating found materials such as vintage fur and animal bones. Each piece in the collection uses exclusively hand-stitch methods, and almost all my materials (including yarn and thread) were sourced second-hand – giving them a new purpose and allowing for tactile closeness to the past and present. Awards: 2023 – Incorporation of Bonnetmakers & Dyers of Edinburgh Award (Edinburgh College – HND Textiles) 2026 – Visual Arts Scotland Graduate Award – Selected Maker (Glasgow School of Art)

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