The Red Dress

In a coup for Queensland, Museum of Brisbane and Warwick Art Gallery will exhibit The Red Dress, an award-winning 14-year global community art project conceived by British artist Kirstie Macleod. 

In this stunning exhibition, which runs from July 25 to September 13, every thread carries a compelling story expressed through embroidery, including local Brisbane ties.

From 2009 to 2023, pieces of The Red Dress travelled the globe, being embroidered on by 367 women, 11 men and two non-binary artists from 51 countries, including refugees, asylum seekers, survivors of war and disadvantaged women worldwide. The project was initially designed to spark discussions about identity, but has evolved into a powerful platform for self-expression, amplifying marginalised voices and addressing social issues woven into traditional embroidery and intricate stitches. 

On display for the first time in Australia, textile and embroidery artists and audiences will be able to marvel at the delicate details of this thought-provoking work. The poignant piece is constructed from 87 panels of burgundy silk dupion and holds a Guinness World Record for the largest collaborative embroidery project.

The Australian contribution to The Red Dress is an intricate and highly skilled embroidery, created by 24 members of Brisbane’s Allthreads community, that beautifully captures our unique landscape, flora, and fauna.

Now complete, the 6.8kg dress is covered with an estimated one to 1.5 billion stitches, weighted with stories that signify the link between artisans and first-time embroiderers and diverse audiences worldwide, including refugees, vulnerable individuals and those with complex needs. All 141 embroiderers with commissioned contributions received compensation along with a share of exhibition fees and merchandise sales for The Red Dress, which has been exhibited in major galleries and at political gatherings.

Museum of Brisbane is a valued partner of Must Do Brisbane.com

Presented by Museum of Brisbane and Warwick Art Gallery with support from All Threads Embroidery, Queensland Women’s Historical Association, Qld Embroidery Guild, NWCQ and private donors.