Home / Art

Artist Embroiders Portraits of Women Using Cascading Thread as Flowing Hair

Hair Embroidery Embroidered Portraits Sheena Liam

Artist Sheena Liam has a one-of-a-kind, handcrafted approach to embroidery. Favoring female subjects, with a focus on flowing hairstyles, Liam creates unique portraits of women and girls with thread tresses that cascade from the canvas.

Each portrait is created using black thread, culminating in a collection of works reminiscent of simple yet exquisitely rendered line drawings. While the majority of each embroidered image lays flat, the subject's hair falls loosely from her face, adding a touch of three-dimensionality to an otherwise uniform surface. Thanks to the thread's versatility, Liam is able to experiment with a range of hairstyles, from perfectly coiffed braided pigtails to loosely tied top-knots.

As a nod to the traditional craft, Liam uses an embroidery hoop to complete each inventive piece. In some cases, the figures' hair even extends beyond the frame, conveying the artist's tendency to challenge the boundaries and limitations of the conventional craft.

Artist Sheena Liam's hair embroidery art features portraits of girls and women with three-dimensional tresses.

Hair Embroidery Embroidered Portraits Sheena Liam

Hair Embroidery Embroidered Portraits Sheena Liam

Hair Embroidery Embroidered Portraits Sheena Liam

Hair Embroidery Embroidered Portraits Sheena Liam

Hair Embroidery Embroidered Portraits Sheena Liam

Hair Embroidery Embroidered Portraits Sheena Liam

Hair Embroidery Embroidered Portraits Sheena Liam

Hair Embroidery Embroidered Portraits Sheena Liam

Sheena Lim: Instagram
h/t: [Colossal]

All images via Sheena Liam. 

Related Articles:

19 Artists Creatively Pushing the Boundaries of Embroidery

Artist Draws Portraits of People from Behind to Give New Perspective of Visual Identity

Artist Uses Colorful Embroidery to Explore Natural Forms

Kelly Richman-Abdou

Kelly Richman-Abdou is a Contributing Writer at My Modern Met. An art historian living in Paris, Kelly was born and raised in San Francisco and holds a BA in Art History from the University of San Francisco and an MA in Art and Museum Studies from Georgetown University. When she’s not writing, you can find Kelly wandering around Paris, whether she’s leading a tour (as a guide, she has been interviewed by BBC World News America and France 24) or simply taking a stroll with her husband and two tiny daughters.
Become a
My Modern Met Member
As a member, you'll join us in our effort to support the arts.
Become a Member
Explore member benefits

Sponsored Content