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Experiments in Bargello by Odette Campbell
Stryx, Jewellery Quarter
Experiments in Bargello: Odette Campbell Debuts Experimental Textile Exhibition
Dudley-based artist Odette Campbell unveils her latest body of work in an experimental exhibition that bridges the structural language of brutalist architecture with the intricate tradition of Bargello embroidery.
Known for its precise geometric patterns, Bargello, also called Florentine embroidery is reimagined here with a contemporary twist. Inspired by the hard-edged forms of industrial and architectural landscapes of Birmingham & the Black Country, Campbell contrasts them with delicate stitchwork, exploring how softness can mirror structure.
This new collection was developed over the past year, supported by the Arts Council England’s Develop Your Creative Practice (DYCP) award, which enabled Campbell to immerse herself in research and material experimentation.
A key moment in her creative journey came during a visit to Parham House in Sussex, home to the UK’s largest archive of 17th-century Bargello works. While there, Campbell was equally struck by
the historic textiles and the vibrant life of Parham’s walled gardens, leading her to develop a visual language that fuses floral spontaneity with architectural rhythm.
This experimental exhibition is a celebration of creative freedom – an invitation to witness embroidery not as static decoration, but as an evolving, conceptual practice that plays with scale, texture and structure.