Our featured artist is who mixes their media to create unique artworks, Blair Martin Cahill is an embroidery artist known for her intricate, concept-driven work. She received her BFA from CalArts and an MA in Fine Art from Chelsea School of Art in London. Based in California, her studio practice bridges craft and contemporary art, and she regularly exhibits in New York, London, and Los Angeles.
1 - Could you explain your practice?
When I first began exploring embroidery, my designs leaned toward bold graphic pieces, heavily influenced by my background in experimental animation at Cal Arts. My work in film shaped my approach to embroidery, treating it as a visual medium with dynamic, striking imagery. Over time, I began to incorporate more human elements into my designs – hidden eyes and subtle details that invited viewers to connect with the work on a deeper level. This shift helped me to incorporate storytelling into my art. Now, before I start a piece, I imagine the personality of the character or the essence of the setting I’m creating. Embroidery, much like animation, opens a limitless realm of creativity where subjects can be as whimsical or as grounded as I want, allowing me to balance seriousness and playfulness.
My favorite new technique is embroidering on water-soluble backing, which has completely changed the way I create layered designs. Stitching directly onto the stabilizer allows me to craft delicate, free-standing pieces that I can later dissolve from their base and arrange however I like on a final backing fabric. It gives my work a sense of depth and dimension, almost like building with thread. I love the freedom it gives me to play with texture, shape, and placement in a much more dynamic way.
I often start with a sketch or a watercolour, If I am working in embroidery I will go straight to my threads and choose a colour palette, this establishes the limitations I want to place on the piece. My workflow includes the use of hand drawn and painted elements adapted to be compatible with modern materials and tools.
2 - Is art relevant today?
Art has always been relevant, woven into every era as a reflection, a challenge, and a source of hope. Especially in times of political unrest, it becomes even more vital, helping us process, resist, and reimagine the world around us. Art offers both escapism and education, it lets us step outside our reality while also deepening our understanding of it.
3 – We are always asked what other artists influence us, we want to know what art you don’t like and which influences you?
I appreciate all art, however…Marilyn Monroe was a true movie icon, but her image has been overused to the point of cliché. If I see her image in any form at an art show, I’m immediately disinterested. The same goes for incorporating luxury brand logos on items such as grenades or tanks, art should move beyond recycling pop culture and glamorizing violence.
I find myself drawn to work that has a sense of humor or carries a subtle message, art that makes you smile, then think.
· The Marquis, Embroidery, 2025
4- If you could go back 10-20 years what would you tell your younger self?
I’d tell myself to loosen up and have more fun with my art, not everything has to be perfect to be interesting. Sometimes the most engaging work comes from letting go. I’m still struggling to learn this lesson!
5 – If you could go forward 10-20 years what do you hope to have done or not done?
I just hope I’m not leaving my kids with a storage unit full of weird art they’ll have to figure out what to do with, Their mom’s strange legacy to sort through and make sense of!