Detail of Round Mosaic, Claire Frampton, 2016

Inspired by broken pottery, Fragments to Fabric takes objects in pieces and transforms them into something whole. Utilising a mix of textile and ceramic works, artist Claire Frampton delves into fragmentation, reimagining the incomplete – creating bold and contemplative artworks.  There is a recurring theme of transformation, where the broken becomes whole, drawing inspiration from E. Gillieron’s reproduction of the fresco of the Ladies in Blue, in which burnt and abraded fragments were reimagined into a whole picture.  

Ceramic fragments are trapped and suspended in reverse applique net, while goldwork embroidery fills the negative space, echoing the Japanese art of kintsugi. This ancient technique involves repairing broken pottery with gold-infused lacquer, emphasising that the process of breaking and remaking is part of the object’s beauty. Goldwork is a running thread in the exhibition – couched and cross-stitched, tracing a path to the centre of the labyrinth on giant disc-like beads.  

Detail of Oversized Labyrinth Necklace, Claire Frampton, 2023

The exhibition is accompanied by a display of samples from the Goldsmiths Textile Collection, highlighting pieces that spoke to Claire in form or technique. These textiles mirror the ceramic fragments in bound brass on hessian or segmented appliqués, reflecting Frampton’s own practice. This display situates her work within the history of textile production at Goldsmiths, creating a conversation between past and present. 

The exhibition is open in the Constance Howard Gallery, Deptford Town Hall, Monday-Friday 1-4pm, until 2 May 2025. More information here.

Ruby Hodgson, Goldsmiths Textiles Collection Curator