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ALYSN
MIDGELOW-MARSDEN
Drawing, Metalwork, Mixed Media, Textiles, Weaving
Artist Bio:
Alsyn Midgelow Marsden's experimental and curious nature leads to continuously evolving works and media; investigating new dimensions as they develop. Mesmerising work with intertwining lines, structures and patterns across textile, sculpture, digital and installation. Stainless steel, brass, copper, bronze cloths, wires, metals and gilding metal are regularly used and the muted hues of oxidizing patinas and heat treatments suggest transformation over time. Her lyrical, magical works celebrate connections through contrasting textures, translucency and shadows, the ethereal and the earthy, the monumental and the insignificant.
Described as an energiser and inspirer for her art making and her teaching practice, Alysn is a highly competent and widely experienced artist using interdisciplinary techniques. Alysn regularly exhibits and mentors and teaches in Aotearoa/New Zealand, Australia, USA and the UK. She has had work included in internationally travelling exhibitions.
Her most recent accolade was a 3rd place finalist in the Estuary Art and Ecology Exhibition at the Malcom Smith Gallery, Auckland for 'Mitigation at the Margins' (short film) and finalist in the Waikato Arts Small Sculpture Award (shaped by the weight of waves), Mandurah Wearable Art (Australia) for ‘What Lies Beneath’; ‘Wall Brooches II’, (Australia) for ‘Taniwha’; ‘Changing Threads’ Nelson Arts ‘Bernina Award’ for ‘The Space Between VII’.

THE SUN, THE MOON AND THE HAIRCLIPS
© Alsyn Midgelow-Marsden 2023
Wire, Gilding & Stone - 120mm x 80mm x 50mm

TRACING SHADOWS
© Alsyn Midgelow-Marsden 2025
Stainless Steel Cloth, Thread & Gilded Canvas - 1220mm x 920mm

LESS APART AND MORE A PART
© Alsyn Midgelow-Marsden 2024
Metal Cloth, Wire, Thread & Stone - 1020mm x 450mm x 220mm

A SHIMMERING QUIET
© Alsyn Midgelow-Marsden 2024
Wire, Fabric, Latex & Stone - 780mm x 700mm x 20mm
Galleries:
- Art By the Sea - Takapuna, Auckland, New Zealand
Art By the River - Whanganui, New Zealand
OBV Gallery - Matakana, New Zealand
The Lawnmowers Son - Waihi, New Zealand
Timeless Textiles -Newcastle, Australia
Exhibitions:
- Artist in fine art and mixed media textiles, tutor and motivational speaker
• 1991 – Present: Alysn’s fine art textile work is shown and sold regularly at galleries, art festivals and shows in NZ and the UK, including both solo and group exhibitions. Working to commissions for individual clients includes wedding and special occasion clothing, commemorative panels, corporate environments, books etc. (See list of most recent below).
Her work was recognised by the UK Arts Council through a grant of $10,000 for the development of a touring exhibition and catalogue in 2006.
Alysn is a freelance tutor and speaker delivering workshops and presentations to professional artist groups, Universities and Colleges, embroiderers’ guilds, patchwork and quilters guilds, schools, colleges, Women’s Institute Headquarters, local authority art centres and private groups, many times, including being invited to be the ’Madeira celebrity lecturer’ at several Embroiderers’ Guild regional meetings.
Executive Board Member for Creative Matakana
• 2019 – current. Delivering an annual programme of creative workshops and events by leading New Zealand artists for a nationwide audience.
Mahurangi Artist’s Studio Trail
• 2018 – current. Instigator and lead organiser of regional artists Studio Trail.
Creative Industries Education Coordinator
• 2016 – 2018: 0.5 post. Based at the Geoff Wilson Gallery, Northtec, Whangarei. Curation of gallery, coordination of student and volunteer involvement.
Gallery Founder and Director
• 1999 – 2012: Direction and management of The Beetroot Tree Gallery for Contemporary Arts (Derbyshire, UK).
Community Arts and Education
• 2003 – 2012: Board Member and Artist with participatory art organization
Projects have included:
A series of participatory and collaborative works by leading artists including working with school children, undergraduate art students, professional artists and the public.
Interactive video, sound and dance installations.
Annual arts festival.
Tertiary Education
• 2003 -2004 Developed and delivered ‘Designer Books’ at South Nottinghamshire College. The course was verified by the ‘Open College Network’.
Private Tuition
• 1985 – 1992: Delivery of specific science based subjects to individual learners in their homes to undergraduate level.
Lecturer
• 1990 – 1992: Peoples College Nottingham Delivery of curriculum lectures for A Level Biology and Biochemistry.
• 1988 – 1992: Loughborough University. Delivery of lectures and practical classes for undergraduate science students.
• 2009 – Present: Presenting to groups and undergraduates around professional approaches to galleries, owning and running a gallery space, pricing, undertaking commissions, marketing and making better work.
Recent Exhibitions:
2025/2024/2023/2022
* Mahurangi Artist Studio Trail
2021
* 2021 Art Salon / Fo Guang Yuan Art Gallery
2020
• Mahurangi Artist Studio Trail
* Martakana. Group exhibition
• Fabricated Narratives. Art at Wharepuke Gallery, Kerikeri.
2019
• Mandurah Wearable Arts. (Australia) Finalist.
• Martakana. Group exhibition.
• Fabricated Narratives. Matakana. (May 2019)
2018
• Fabricated Narratives. Coordinator of group exhibition. Knitting and Stitching Show (UK - London, Dublin, Harrogate. October to November)
• Martakana. Group exhibition.
• Kleur Gallery. NZ
• ArtForm Gallery. NZ
2017
• The Festival of Quilts, NEC, Birmingham, UK.
• Living Threads, UK (April) Title: ‘Sensational Stitches’.
• Martakana. Group exhibition.
• Paper, Stitch, Metal. Estuary Arts Group Exhibition
• In Dialogue. Group Exhibition. Haikou and Guangdong, China; Whangarei Art Museum, NZ.
2016
• Permutations. Solo exhibition. Knitting and Stitching Show (UK - London, Dublin, Harrogate. October to November)
• The Research Room. Group Exhibition. Geoff Wilson Gallery.
• Group Fibre Exhibition. Kings Theatre, Kawakawa
• In Dialogue. Group Exhibition. Haikou and Guangdong, China
2015
• Curating and exhibiting leading NZ Textile Art Practitioners. Knitting and Stitching Show
• (London, Dublin, Harrogate. October – November)
• Self Portrait. Lysaght Watt Gallery.
• Changing Threads Finalists exhibition, Art Refinery, Nelson.
• Living Threads, UK (April) Title: ‘Textile Treasures’.
• Kaipara Coast Sculpture Gardens, NZ. Title: ‘Change’
2014
• NorthArt, NZ. Title: ‘Negative Spaces’ and ‘Absence and Presence’.
• Festival of Quilts, NEC, Birmingham, UK
• Art Van Go Gallery, UK Title: ‘Negative Spaces’.
• Minerva Gallery, Wellington NZ. Title: ‘This is ... Immaterial’.
• Mairangi Art Centre. Mairangi Bay, NZ. Tutors Exhibition.
• Changing Threads Finalists Exhibition, Nelson, NZ
• Harbourview Sulpture Trail, Te Atatu, Auckland, NZ. Title: ‘Light Dancing’. Large multi piece sculpture in steel cloth and perspex set into the lake.
• Tenants and Tutors exhibition Lakehouse Arts, Takapuna, NZ
• Kaipara Coast Sculpture Gardens, NZ. Title: ‘Woven in the Landscape’
2013
• The Beetroot Tree, Derbyshire UK Title: By Invitation
• The Beetroot Tree 100 Day Project
• Knitting and Stitching Show, Harrogate, UK
• Living Threads, Derbyshire, UK
2012
• Seed Gallery, Derbyshire, UK.
• Rufford Gallery, Nottinghamshire, UK. Title: All That Glimmers
• Estuary Arts, Orewa, NZ.
Film:
• 2019. Becoming (with Steve Balaam)
• 2018. Fabricated Narratives (with Ingrid Jellick)
• 2011. Alysn Midgelow-Marsden. Textile Artist (with Big Ant Video)
Major Recent Commissions:
Many commissions have been undertaken for private clients for wall based art and for special occasion clothing and for dance theatre.
Funding Awards:
2017 Research Award. NorthTec. In Dialogue Exhibition (NZ$18,000)
2016 Research Award. NorthTec. International Exhibition (NZ$5,000)
2008 Derbyshire Art Marketing Award (approx. NZ$1000.00)
Designing and Implementing E Commerce Solutions Training
2007 Derbyshire Business Link Award (approx. NZ$1000.00)
Marketing Materials and Digital Projector
2006 Arts Council England. (approx. NZ$10,000.00)
Development of Touring Exhibition and Exhibition Catalogue
2004 Arts Council England (approx. NZ$10,000.00 approx.)
‘Tree Dressing’ Children’s Community Project Lead Artist
Competition Awards:
2018 Winner ‘Wall Brooches’, Newcastle, Aus.
2015 Winner ‘Bernina Award’ ‘Changing Threads’, Nelson
2014 Finalist ‘Changing Threads’ Nelson Arts Council Textile exhibition
1998 Winner National Embroidery Championship for Wearable Art
1998 Second Place National Embroidery Championship
1999 Winner National Embroidery Championship for Wearable Art
Committee Member UK Embroiderers’ Guild (Branch and Regional)
• 1994 – 2000
Authored Books:
• 2014 ‘Stitch, Fibre, Metal and Mixed Media’ (Search Press)
• 2007 ‘this Lustr’ed cloth’ - a fibre artists workbook of metals (Artfully Bound)
• 2006 ‘The Continuous Thread of Revelation’ (Artfully Bound)
• 2003 ‘Between the sheets with Angelina – a workbook for fusible fibres’(Word4Word)
Published Articles and Catalogues:
• 2020
Textile and Fibre Forum Magazine Profile
• 2019
Art Quilt Quarterly (Featured artwork)
• 2018
‘WOW Book 2’. Chapter.
‘Fabricated Narratives’. Exhibition Catalogue
Junction Magazine (Profile)
• 2015
The New Zealand Artist (Profile)
Art textiles from Aotearoa. Exhibition Catalogue
• 2004 - present
Project and information articles in ‘Down Under Textiles’, ‘Sewing World’, ‘Stitch’, ‘Paper, Cloth, Scissors’, ‘Workbox’, ‘Workshop on the Web’, ‘Classic Stitches’, ‘The Computer Textile Design Group’,’ NZ Artist’, ‘Junction’.
• 2004 – 2005
Craftsman Magazine ‘Diary of a craftsman’ 12 monthly 2,000 word articles.