What I’ve Been Up To This Summer — Discovering Yarn Paper and a New Exhibition – Clara Nartey

This past summer was a season of discovery and creation. I found myself diving deep into a new material that completely captivated my imagination — “yarn paper“.

Yarn Paper by Clara Nartey on View at The Jewish Community Center in Stamford, CT — Joyous time at the opening celebration at the opening reception of the exhibit “Restitching the Narrative”

It started as an experiment, a curiosity about creating 3D fiber objects. “What would happen if I combined the linear qualities of yarn with the flexibility of paper”, was one of the questions I was investigating. The result is something magical — a hybrid surface that blurs the boundary between textile and paper. I call it “yarn paper.”

Works on Yarn Paper on Exhibit

Works on Yarn Paper by Clara Nartey on View at The Jewish Community Center in Stamford, CT — Works on Yarn Paper by Clara Nartey on View at Faye & Ben Manager Gallery, Stamford

I create this textile by hand weaving and stitching yarn into gauzy, lace-like sheets. Once dipped in water, the stabilizer dissolves, leaving behind a delicate, handmade-paper effect. Yarn paper allows me to stitch, and build texture all at once. It’s both delicate and resilient, mirroring the layered stories I seek to tell through my work.

Onto this fragile surface, I’m now embroidering portraits. The result is delicate, experimental, and unlike traditional fabric. Working with this new material opened up an entire new body of work for me — one that explores movement, migration, and the weaving of identities across time and place. Each piece invites the viewer to look closely, to see how stories are literally and metaphorically bound together.

Works by Clara Nartey in solo exhibition at Jewish Community Center, Stamford, CT — *Clara Nartey at “**Restitching the Narrative**“*

I’m thrilled to share that this body of work is currently on view in my new exhibition, “Restitching the Narrative“. The exhibition opened recently to a wonderful, warm reception. The opening night was filled with lots of energy. Different people came together to experience the pieces in person. It was such a joy to see them engaging with the textures and layered meanings in the work.

Viewers at Restitching the Narrative

Works on Yarn Paper by Clara Nartey on View at Faye & Ben Manager Gallery, Stamford

If you couldn’t make it to the opening, don’t worry — there’s more to come! I’ll be hosting an artist talk and walkthrough soon, where I’ll take you behind the scenes of this process and share more about how yarn paper came to be. Stay tuned for details in my next post!

Until then, I hope your summer has also brought you moments of inspiration and discovery.

In the meantime, check out the exhibition here at the gallery at The J.