biography
Fabia Delise (Trieste, Italy, 1968) has been passionate about textiles since she was very young, making traditional embroidery and learning different techniques. After meeting the French artist Fanny Violet, she was introduced to free-hand machine embroidery (piqué libre) which allowed Fabia greater versatility in her artistic practice.
It is in 2006 that she finds in patchwork the expressive language more appealing to her. However, she found that she preferred more contemporary explorations of traditional patchwork and developed a personal style combining the traditional forms of the hexagon with an innovative chromatic composition. The study and deepening knowledge of Art Quilt techniques through attending classes and workshops conducted by internationally renowned artists and teachers have helped her to develop her unique style. After much research between structural rigorous and overcoming the two-dimensional static forms, she has successfully achieved three-dimensional forms in her textiles that are both sculptural and dynamic.
Since 2001, Fabia has lived in Genoa. She regularly exhibits in public, institutional, museum and private galleries and spaces both nationally and internationally.
artist statement
I grew up in a land at the crossroads of different cultures that have nourished my artistic practice, giving it those characteristic traits that distinguish it. A heritage of traditions that I find again sewing, in the slowness of gestures that have become for me a form of meditation, of escape from the rush of our time.
In my works I transform this ancient technical richness into a contemporary expressive language to snatch it from oblivion and ferry it towards the future, overcoming the rigid compositional parameters of the hexagonal element without ever losing sight of the rigor and precision of execution. Over time I have experimented with different textile materials – from hand-dyed monochromatic fabrics to fabrics printed by me to the reuse of old garments or tailoring scraps that establish a link between personal memory and work of art.
The color with its evocative power is my primary source of inspiration, color combinations that excite me and that I capture in my photograph during my journeys. I assemble the hexagons by hand, avoiding the symmetry of the traditional pattern to focus on the movement up to the three-dimensional construction where, through the relief surface, I experience the effect of light that leaves a margin of unpredictability to the final result, a process not entirely controllable that implies an acceptance of its own limit and the need to abandon the work to its autonomous dynamism.
exhibitions
2023
Udine (Italy), Galleria Arcipelago “Tutto inizia da un filo”
– solo
Turin (Italy), Paratissima Nice & Fair – “Repetita, Eterni Ritorni e Continui Rimandi” – collective
Athens, Ohio (USA), The Dairy Barn Art Center “Quilt National 2023, the Best in Contemporary Quilt” – solo
2022
Turin (Italy), Paratissima Nice & Fair – “Savoir Faire l’Incredibile fascino dell’analogico”, a cura di Ksenia Yarosh e Federica Tomatis – collective
Alsace (France), Carrefour Europèen du Patchwork – Juried Exhibit SAQA EME Wide Horizons VIII – collective
Stillwater, OK (USA), OSU Museum of Art- Juried Exhibit SAQA
“Ebb & Flow” – collective
2021
Birmingham (UK), Festival of Quilts, Juried Exhibit SAQA
“Ebb & Flow” – collective
2020
Perugia (Italy), SCD Textile & Art Studio, “Rebels. Contemporary tapestries for rebellious walls”, by Barbara Pavan – collective
Virtual Juried Exhibit,
Plurality of Voices – collective
exhibitions
2019
Karlsruhe (Germany), Nadelwelt Karlsruhe – Fiber4 Group
– collective
2018
Prague (Czech Republic),
Prague Patchwork Meeting,
Gruppo Fiber4 – collective
2017
Mirabeau (Francia),
Aiguilles en Luberon,
Gruppo Fiber4 – collective
Arenzano (Italy), Arenzano Bonsai, Serra monumentale Villa Negrotto Cambiaso – collective
2016
Nord Groningen (Netherlands),
Quilt Festival – personal
Girona (Spain), Interquilt
– solo
Alsace (France), Carrefour EU du Patchwork, Quilt Italia
– collective
2015
Milan, Spazio Roberta De Marchi – solo
Grambois (France),
Aiguilles en Luberon – solo
2014
Monza (Italy), Urban Center,
“La musica della mia vita”
– collective
2013
Lièpvre (France), Eglise de l’Assumption, 19eme Carrefour Europeen du Patchwork – solo
Briançon (France),
10eme Festival du Patchwork
– solo
2012
Genoa (Italy), spazio Artelier Palazzo Ducale, Riciclo Quotidiana-Mente – collective
Genoa (Italy), Palazzo Ducale,
Re Mida Day – collective
Florence (Italy), Biblioteca Nazionale, Florence Design Week
– collective
2011
Grambois (Francia), Aiguilles en Luberon – solo
2010
Genoa (Italy), Villa Imperiale, “Tableaux Textiles” – personal
Genoa (Italy), Villa Imperiale, Festa della Primavera – collective
2006
Genoa (Italy), spazio Artelier Palazzo Ducale, “Levia Gravia”
– collective
publications
• Paratissima 2023 10th edition Nice & Fair Catalog – Repetita
• Quilt National 2023 Catalog
• Paratissima 2022 9th edition Nice & Fair Catalog – Savoir Faire
• Patchwork Professional Quilt & Textilkunst
#04 2021
• SAQA Ebb & Flow global exhibition catalogue
• Festival of Quilts Birmingham 2020 catalogue
• Quilt Italia Magazine — summer 2017
• Quilt Italia Magazine — summer 2015
• My Patchwork magazine #01 — summer 2014
• Catalogue Prestige 2013 — 19eme Carrefour
Européen du Patchwork
• Les Nouvelles Patchwork et creation Textile #116
spring 2013
• Burda Patchwork (France) #40 – winter 2013