Cathy Brickhill

Cathy Jane weaves the wonder and character of the outside world into every intricate piece—from the fragile grace of a skeletal leaf to the glory of our native bird species. Using contemporary sculptural embroidery techniques combined with elaborate hand embroidery, Cathy breathes life into each piece, creating stunning, ethereal works of NZ art that honour the fragility and splendour of Mother Nature.

“My earliest memories all involve the great outdoors - bush walks with my family, peering at birds through binoculars, and collecting tiny skeletal leaves, fallen petals, shells, and feathers. That lifelong habit has become an integral part of my creative process as a New Zealand artist. To this day, I wander, explore, and gather wild treasures, using their forms to inspire my artwork. I'm particularly interested in imperfection. I like to focus most of my sculptures on nature's imperfections such as caterpillar holes, decayed leaves, weathered bird's feathers, and deteriorating fungi.” - Cathy