Painting nature with threads
- Tracey creates textile sculptures highlighting the importance of native plants
- Her practice spans delicate needlework and large-scale sculptural forms
- Hand embroidery, machine stitching and sculptural construction underpin her pieces
Tracey Lawko transforms embroidery into large-scale 3D works, often featuring native plants and pollinators. Her inspiration draws directly on the natural environment of the Niagara Escarpment and its local flora and fragile ecosystems. “I describe my practice as life drawing with threads as my palette,” she says. Combining hand embroidery, machine stitching and sculptural construction, Tracey’s pieces range from intimate reliefs to life sized botanical forms. “Problem solving and innovation drive my approach, and pieces evolve as I experiment with the material,” she says. Tracey’s textile sculptures advocate for environmental awareness while foregrounding the labour, time and technical mastery embedded in her creative practice.
INTERVIEW
I learned to embroider as a child. I pursued a corporate career for many years, but textile work was always present as a parallel practice. Guilds, workshops and continuous experimentation allowed me to build a professional creative practice over time.
Dimensionality was always part of my work. Over time, relief techniques evolved into fully free-form sculptures. Working in three dimensions made the subject matter feel more alive and led naturally to larger scale pieces.
Each piece begins with a concept and develops through problem-solving. I do not plan everything in advance. The ideas emerge as I respond to materials, structure and technical challenges during the making process.
My practice is anchored in environmental awareness. By focusing on native plants and pollinators, I aim to highlight fragile ecosystems and the importance of protecting what is essential for our collective future.
