Soft Power: Lives told through textile art: GROUP EXHIBITION CO-CURATED BY ALICE KETTLE
Royal West of England Academy

Soft Power:Lives told through Textile Art' was an international exhibition curated by textile art pioneer Professor Alice Kettle, with curator of international textiles Professor Lesley Millar MBE.

The exhibition featured works by Alice Kettle, Alice Maher, Amneh Shaikh-Farooqui, Anurita Chandola, Audrey Walker, Enam Gbewonyo, Ellen Sharples, Erin M Riley, Jane Poulton, Kani Kamil, Kari Steihaug, Lasmin Salmon, Lise Bjorne Linnert, Margaret Nicholson, Mona Craven, Maryam Wahid, Paula Reason, Philippa Lawrence, Pippa Hetherington, Rachel Fallon, Reiko Koga, Sabine Kaner, Sarah-Joy Ford, Shelly Goldsmith, Suzumi Noda, and Susie MacMurray.

The exhibition highlighted how cloth could play a unique role in telling stories and communicating life’s journeys. As a material encountered daily, textiles created an immediate connection between the artist and the viewer, making the narratives feel familiar and relatable.

The artworks focused on storytelling, bringing to light personal and collective experiences—from the autobiographical and hidden struggles of marginalised individuals to stories shaped by major events such as the pandemic. They shared intimate and emotional portrayals of self-expression while making bold statements about empowerment and change. The exhibition demonstrated how cloth could connect women across cultures, recording and reflecting their experiences.