Love, loss and lifelong connections woven into new exhibition

A powerful new exhibition exploring the emotional ties between textiles, memory and human connection has opened at Sunny Bank Mills, bringing together contemporary textile art and treasured archival objects in a moving celebration of love in all its forms.

For the Love of Textiles examines the entanglement between love and textiles, centring on love as an active force, something practised, nurtured and sustained over time. Through works that range from deeply personal to joyfully exuberant, the exhibition expands the idea of love beyond romance to encompass family, memory, creativity, grief and community.

Visitors can expect to encounter heartbreak, adoration and soaring emotion through an extraordinary collection of textiles and garments, including contemporary artworks, childhood keepsakes, handmade quilts, knitted football jerseys and archival pieces never publicly seen before. At the heart of the exhibition is a striking collection of wedding attire.

Anna Turzynski, arts director at Sunny Bank Mills, said: “I love this exhibition. Mainly because it has been a labour of love, pulling in favours from neighbours, friends and colleagues to create the centrepiece collection of wedding outfits. But also, because it has seen us work with textiles in a new way.

“Not only have we never displayed so many garments before, but we are also exhibiting archival pieces for the first time. I am so honoured to display so many treasured items and feel so grateful to everyone for trusting us.

“I hope visitors to the exhibition will find a way into the concept of love and textiles being entangled, either through the time taken over a 12ft x 13ft quilt, the sight of someone's childhood toy or the delight of a knitted football jersey.”

The exhibition also includes a significant contribution of a wedding dress and bridesmaid’s outfit, from Leeds Gypsy and Traveller Exchange (Leeds GATE), a charity and membership organisation for Gypsies and Travellers in West Yorkshire. Their involvement coincides with Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month in June.

Rachel Trafford, communications team leader at Leeds GATE, said: “Being part of For the Love of Textiles exhibition is a brilliant opportunity to continue our cultural heritage work in the region and the timing couldn’t be better.

“Being able to showcase an aspect of Gypsy and Traveller culture in a member-led way, that has previously been exploited and turned infamous - their weddings - at such a special time in the year, felt really meaningful to us.

“A member and her family in Wakefield very kindly donated their wedding dress and bridesmaid dresses, which have been used as a centrepiece of the entire exhibition. The media and cultural environment that divides and vilifies certain groups meant that though she was happy to take part, she did not want to share anything identifiable.

“This member is brave and brilliant for doing so. We thank her and her family for their kind generosity. We hope people can see these dresses for what they are; treasured items that represent personal and beautiful memories of love and family.”

Among the featured contemporary artists is embroiderer Nicole Chui whose work explores lived experience and emotional expression through stitch.

Nicole Chui said: “It’s great to see the love of textiles embraced in a location where there is a profound legacy, and I’m proud to be adding a new chapter to it.

“My work as an embroidery artist is about more than just technique; it’s about making room for the beautiful mess of raw expression and embracing lived experiences through the form of embroidery.

“I’m proud to stand in this space as a voice for the contemporary wave, showing that while textiles have a deep history, their future is still being written in every raw, honest stitch.”

Blending contemporary practice with community stories and historic collections, For the Love of Textiles invites visitors to reflect on the emotional power of the objects we live with, wear, make and treasure, and the many ways love becomes stitched into everyday life.

For the Love of Textiles is open in the Gallery, Sandsgate Building, Sunny Bank Mills, Farsley, LS28 5UJ, Tuesday-Sunday 10am-4pm until 28th June. Closed on Mondays. FREE ENTRY.