Pat Moloney FSDC

Woven Textiles

About Pat
Pat Moloney is a contemporary Textile Artist. Inspired by the inherent tactile and sensory qualities of both structured and woven textiles, her ideas are a response to the natural world. She is fascinated by minute details and textures, observing and recording how the forces of light can change what the eye perceives not only in nature but in the wider landscape. She uses both traditional hand techniques and digital technology, often combining the two. Pat works mainly to commission, her work can be seen by appointment at 93 Chesterton Rd, London W10 6ET
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Biography Back to top

Texture is an integral component to any part of the weaving process from the choice of fibre to the construction itself and it is the potential of this aspect which continues to inspire Pat's work. From designing and weaving cloth to experimenting freely with the structure, it has been an ongoing search to redress the dominance of visual imagery in the world of aesthetics to create a more fuller haptic experience and engagement with the senses.

She takes many photographs, her camera is always with her when she travels. She looks for minute details, the interaction of colour with textures, lines and marks, the shapes cast by shadows and reflections and the juxtaposition of manmade structures and nature. These act as inspiration to recall the memory and atmosphere of a place. She does not work directly from the photographs, but makes a drawing and a colour and tonal inventory with carefully selected yarns and materials. Allowing each piece to evolve in its own way she develops a response to what she has experienced but in the same process creates multi-sensory qualities. Taking risks and seizing opportunities to recognise and explore the unexpected and the unforeseen she often uses materials out of context. Perception, memory and imagination are constantly interacting with one another.

In recent years Pat has sought to further this by exploring the qualities of light and reflection. This has led to the use of external light sources, Leds and fibre optics to transform and enhance the visual qualities that occur. Working with both traditional hand techniques and digital technology she strives to create works that engage the eye, the mind and the hand to communicate in a visual language a more sensory experience.

Resumé Back to top

Pat Moloney studied at Birmingham College of Art where she gained a National Diploma in Design in Woven Textiles and Ceramics. She received a post Graduate scholarship to specialise in Woven Textiles.

She later studied Design Education at the Royal College of Art and was awarded an MA in the History of Dress and Textiles at Winchester School of Art.

After a long and successful career teaching Woven Textiles in Higher Education, she was appointed as a Research Fellow at London Metropolitan University where she had formerly held a teaching post. Her research interests focused on the relationship between Hand Craft methodologies and Digital Design practice.

She played a pivotal role in the development of the Distance Learning Textile courses for the Open College of the Arts from its's inception in 1988, writing course books and as course leader, developing the BA Textile programme.

Throughout her teaching career she has always maintained her own practice, at first as a freelance designer for Industry and in later years as a Textile Artist.

She has won a number of prizes and awards which have enabled her to travel extensively and attend overseas courses and conferences.

She is a Fellow of the Society Designer Craftsmen, a former member of Council and for many years has been instrumental in coordinating the Licentiate Award scheme for new graduates.

Pat's work is represented on the The Craft's Council's Directory and included in the following archive collections

The V&A Textile Collection

The Camberwell Inner London Education Authority Collection.

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