The New Quilt 2024 Preview: Suzanne Laird

Truth Decay by Suzanne Laird of Lawson, New South Wales considers some of the tactics used against truth.

Suzanne made her first quilt in 1978 for her daughter without realizing that this would become the focus of her stitching for years to come. Family, work and career generally took priority, however she didn’t stop sewing, collecting fabric and ideas along the way. Through the 80’s and early 90’s her learning focus was on technique and design rather than replicating given patterns. Her career took over until retirement, when she revisited her awareness of more recent quilting developments, making small quilts to explore possibilities. Engagement with small and large quilt groups were significant in re-energising her passion. Several entries in the annual QuiltNSW Exhibition were well received to her surprise and pleasure. Never one to mince words, nor fail to express an opinion about a personal passion, she has more recently seen the possibilities of quilts in response to societal challenges. Collections of notes, quotes and clippings inspired her first foray into this area, and then led to the sometimes tortuous development of Truth Decay, her entry in The New Quilt. Suzanne’s design process is fluid, each step evolving rather than planned. Colours emerge first from her notes, then design possibilities requiring exploration on a design wall where changes, rejections, and more ideas respond to her intent. Her topical notes and quotes are growing, instigating ideas for more quilts to come. 

 Follow Suzanne on Instagram at: @suzanne.laird

Plan an art excursion!  

The New Quilt 2024, on exhibition at Hawkesbury Regional Gallery, Windsor, NSW from 4 May to 23 June 2024. Official opening and awards ceremony from 6pm on Friday 3 May 2024. RSVP to the gallery. 

Gallery hours: Open 6 days a week Monday, Wednesday-Friday 10am-4pm Saturday-Sunday 10am-3pm. Closed on Tuesday and public holidays.