Tickets to see The Red Dress are now on sale here.
The Red Dress is an award-winning collaborative embroidery project conceived by British artist Kirstie Macleod. Created over 14 years from 2009 to 2023, the project provided an artistic platform for people around the world — many of whom are vulnerable, marginalised, or living in poverty — to share their stories through the universal language of stitch.
Constructed from 87 panels of burgundy silk dupion, The Red Dress travelled internationally for over a decade, being continuously embroidered by hundreds of contributors across five continents. The completed garment features the work of 380 embroiderers from 51 countries, including refugees, survivors of conflict, artisans, students, embroidery professionals, and first-time stitchers.
The red dress has previously been exhibited in Paris, Krakow, Cairo, Sarajevo and Stellenbosch as well as at the United Nations in Geneva. Every time it goes on display somewhere in the world, it gives marginalised voices a platform, while celebrating the strength that can be found through community.
To accompany The Red Dress here in Cornwall, we will be showing Madeleine Walker’s Urban Sirens, a hand-embroidered cape exploring themes of sustainability and Cornish folklore. A local community artist will create a participation project in response to the garment and its themes, and various events will be taking place throughout the exhibition. Details coming soon.
