Artist's Statement

Colour, shape and stitch in textiles hold me captive. I’m under their spell, creating work to complement each element to its advantage. 

The topics for my quilts come from my responses to the environment whether it is natural, urban, political or social. Australia’s vast inland expanses are a constant source of inspiration.  

After more than 30 years of stumbling over rocky outcrops, following in the footsteps of my geologist husband, I have developed a deep love of the patterning and texture of rocks and natural landforms. I only wish I had more time in each day to devote to my chosen field.

RECENT EXHIBITIONS

Since she began quilting in 1990 while living in Mt. Isa, Queensland, Sue has exhibited widely in numerous juried and group exhibitions throughout Australia, the United States of America, Europe and New Zealand. Her work is represented in international touring exhibitions and collections and has been published in Fiberarts, Craft Arts International, Textile Fibre Forum, Down Under Quilts, Quilters Companion and Australian Patchwork and Quilting.

Sue is an award-winning textile artist with numerous prizes to her credit. In 2001 her quilt "WHAT WOULD YOU TAKE?" was the winner of Australian Quilts in Public Places and acquired by the Immigration Museum, Melbourne.

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2006
‘Spinifex and Snappy Gums’, Gallery 159, Brisbane

GUEST ARTIST

2004
Roma Art Group Easter Art Show, Roma QLD

2002
Sue Dennis Quilt Artist Retrospective, Queensland Quilt Show, Brisbane

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2005
Juried selection The Best of SAQA International Quilt Festival, Houston USA

Finalist ‘Quilts: a World of Beauty’ International Quilt Festival, Houston USA

Juried selection ‘Across Australia’ international touring exhibition curated by Dijanne Cevaal, Quilt Indulgence, Mittagong Australia, Panorama Mesdag, The Hague Netherlands, Tripoli Libya, Opera Museum, Cairo Egypt, Damascus & Aleppo Syria

‘Wish You Were Here - in Australia’ international touring exhibition curated by Dijanne Cevaal Australia & Mary Andrews USA

Juried selection ‘World Quilt & Textile’ Ohio, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania National Quilt Extravaganza, Pacific International Quilt Festival, California USA

‘Focus on Fabric’ Royal Queensland Art Society Gallery 419, Brisbane

‘Two by Two’ international touring exhibition curated by Dijanne Cevaal, England & Australia

‘Best of the Best’ Australasian Quilt Convention, Melbourne

 2004

‘I Remember Mama: Mother, My Family, And Me’ International Quilt Festival, Houston USA international touring exhibition

‘Art in Textiles’ Textile Art Group, Redcliffe City Gallery QLD

‘Quilts of the Pacific Rim’ Pan Pacific Quilt Show & Conference, Honolulu & The Quilt & Sewing Fest, Myrtle Beach USA

2003

‘Organic’ international touring exhibition, Dijanne Cevaal, Sue Dennis, Robina Summers & Olga Walters, Europe & Australia

Juried selection Husqvarna ‘MASTERPIECES: Spirit & Strength’ 2 year tour - Houston, Chicago, Pittsburgh USA, The Hague Netherlands, Birmingham UK, Zurich Switzerland, Salzburg Austria, Tampere Finland, Husqvarna & Haverud Sweden, Sydney & Melbourne Australia, Hjorring Denmark

‘Quilted Journeys: Immigration Stories’ Museum of Craft & Folk Art, Fort Mason, San Francisco USA

2002

Juried selection TRANSFORMATIONS Darling Downs Art Quilters, Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery QLD

‘Re-fabricating our Indigenous Spirit’ curator Annabelle Solomon, Braemar Gallery N.S.W.

 2001

‘Under the Southern Cross’ a travelling exhibition curated by Dijanne Cevaal, Australia, New Zealand, Europe & United Kingdom

‘Out of Step’ Textile Art Group, Trevenan House Gallery, Newfarm Brisbane

Juried selection CELEBRATION QUILTS 2001 Centenary of Federation exhibition, Canberra Museum and Gallery, Canberra

‘Journeys- The Immigration Experience’ Shiavello Access Gallery, Immigration Museum, Melbourne VIC Australian Quilts in Public Places initiative of the Australian Quilters Association

‘Re-fabricating our Relationships’ curator Annabelle Solomon, Braemar Gallery N.S.W.

 2000

Juried selection ‘PROGRESSIONS – Art Quilters Step into the Future’ Darling Downs Art Quilters, Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery QLD

‘Re-fabricating the Future’ curator Annabelle Solomon, Braemar Gallery N.S.W.

Juried selection ‘Horizons’ international touring exhibition curated by Sue Wademan, New Zealand, England, South Africa

1999

‘Bounty’ international touring exhibition curated by Dijanne Cevaal, Australia, New Zealand, Europe & United Kingdom

PUBLICATIONS

 2006

Down Under Quilts Issue 93 ‘Meet a Quilter’ p52-60

TEACHING PHILOSOPHY

 Teaching is my way of passing on the key of knowledge that unlocks the door of personal creativity. The thrill of teaching is connecting with students, enjoying what we're doing and at the end of the day giving them a sense of achievement. I have more than 10 years teaching experience  in rural and city venues