AUGUST 21, 2024GRACE EBERT

“Petiscos” (2024), cotton, polyester, white oak frame, 13 x 13 x 1.5 inches. All photos by Adrienna Matzeg, courtesy of Tacit Collective

Rendering photographic snapshots and souvenir tableaux in textured punch needle, the artist depicts a hot afternoon in Portugal.

Toronto-based artist Adrienna Matzeg stitches a tangible record of a trip to Portugal in Bebidas e Lanches, or Drinks and Snacks. Rendering photographic snapshots and souvenir tableaux in textured punch needle, Matzeg depicts the sights of a hot afternoon spent around a table with friends. Framed by negative space, the compositions often appear cropped like reference photos to show a particular perspective and capture the sensory memories of travel, which the artist bolsters with titles like “Jet Lag in Lisbon” and “Sprained Ankle in Albufeira.”

“Jet Lag in Lisbon” (2024), cotton, polyester, linen, white oak frame, 13 x 13 x 1.5 inches

Tins of sardines, espresso at a sidewalk cafe, and a beer at the beach emerge from the cotton canvas in lush fibers. “There is such a rich culture surrounding food in Portugal that I discovered while travelling. This became a jumping-off point for the work,” the artist shares. “Colour really defines my memories and plays a pivotal role in narrating the stories within each piece.”[…]

“Quarter to Four” (2024), cotton, polyester, white oak frame, 17 x 21 x 1.5 inches

More: Cropped Punch-Needle Snapshots by Adrienna Matzeg Stitch Memories of Portugal — Colossal