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Phong Chi Lai

@studiopcl

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followers

4090

following

Quilt National27
Finalist-Irene Davies Tapestry Award
Patchworks @partnershipeditions
Le Fil Dans L’art Contemporain @pyramyd_editions
@textilesxart

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Do you ever simply ask yourself: what if?

This week, artist Phong Chi Lai takes centre stage in our Friday Feature Artist interview.
Based in Melbourne, Phong works with improv patchwork, quilting, and soft sculpture, using natural dyes and upcycled fabrics. His practice is intuitive yet meticulous, shaped by early years in his parents’ Adelaide clothing factory, a career in fashion and footwear, and a deep love for making by hand.

In this rich conversation hosted by our Creative Director Jo Wright, Phong opens up about the joys of working by hand, the discoveries that come through patience, and the beauty of creating pieces that are loved and lived with over time. His reflections on process, passion, and the journey of making will inspire any artist to slow down, explore, and see their work in a new light.

Tap the link in our bio to watch the full interview on YouTube or Facebook, or tune in on your favourite podcasting platform. by @studiopcl

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a year ago

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Textile X Art book release! @textilesxart
Super excited!
Congratulations and a big thank you @howardmoonage @monamadeit
Honoured to take part!
@thamesandhudsonau

For more info, the links in my bio!
Release date- 04 Nov 25
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#textiles #textileart #textileartbook #textileartists by @studiopcl

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a year ago

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In good company, thank you for the inclusion @charlotte_vannier_ !
New book release on Oct 17
Looking forward to getting a copy soon!

Thread in Contemporary Art
125 Artists at the Heart of Creation
by Charlotte Vannier
Pyramyd Publishing @pyramyd_editions
Book cover image @faigahmedstudio

In recent years, thread has taken center stage in the world of contemporary art. Whether sewn, embroidered, woven, tufted, knitted, crocheted, or knotted, it inspires a wide range of artists. This ambitious and richly illustrated book presents 125 artists from around the world through a unique selection of their works. Monumental abstract sculptures sit alongside seemingly pixelated portraits. Family linens are repurposed into creations that pay tribute to past generations. Entire walls are draped in color, poetic or activist texts are delicately embroidered, and seemingly tribal masks hint at hidden secrets. By opening the doors to their studios, these artists reveal their personal journeys, influences, and visions.

496 pages – 24 x 28 cm – €49.50
Date de parution : 17 octobre 2025 (Release date: October 17, 2025)

#textileart #textileartbook #textiles #textileartists #textileartist taken in Pyramyd Éditions by @studiopcl

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The running stitch, on repetition…
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#handstitching #slowstitching #textiles #handsewing taken in River Studios by @studiopcl

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Common Threads:
Crafting Community Through Cloth workshop series @bundoorahomestead

Join me for a workshop series exploring the creative, sustainable, and social possibilities of working with cloth.

Across four workshops participants will learn practical techniques while sharing stories, skills and ideas through making. Using reclaimed textiles and natural materials, the program celebrates the simple act of making together and the connections that emerge through cloth, creativity and community.

All materials provided, no experience necessary. Attend one or all of the following workshops:
Week 1: Wednesday 4 November | Intro to Improv Patchwork | 11:30am - 1:30pm

Week 2: Wednesday 11 November | Slow Stitching | 11:30am - 1:30pm

Week 3: Wednesday 18 November | Intro to Visible Mending | 11:30am - 1:30pm

Week 4: Wednesday 25 November | Intro to Eco-printing | 11:30am - 2:00pm

Venue
Bundoora Homestead Art Centre
7 Prospect Hill Dr, Bundoora

Tickets
General admission: $15 per session + booking fee
Season ticket: $60 + booking fee

To book a spot- the links in my bio. I hope to meet you there. taken in Bundoora Homestead Art Centre by @studiopcl

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Overland was recently sold and shipped to a private collector in Hong Kong. 😁
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#textileart #patchwork #naturaldyes #improvpatchwork by @studiopcl

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13 days ago

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New patchworks… coming soon…
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#patchwork #textileart #textiles #naturaldyes #improvpiecing taken in River Studios by @studiopcl

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22 days ago

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Finalist 2026 Irene Davies International Tapestry Awards

Nine Patch Star, 2026
21 x 21 cm

Cotton and hemp string, cotton perle thread, silk thread, up-cycled wool and linen cloth, natural dyes- indigo, pomegranate and onion skins.

Gratefully thrilled! Thank you @austapestry
The exhibition will be on from 29/10/26 - 16/01/27

This work reimagines a woven tapestry through the structure of a nine-patch quilt block. Woven from utilitarian indigo-dyed cotton and hemp string, the original tapestry was cut apart. Its sections were separated and repositioned, then stitched together and re-woven with pomegranate-dyed silk and cotton perle thread. The process disrupts the original image, giving the material a new geometry through which the star motif subtly emerges. Woven textures, frayed edges and shifts in colour remain visible, preserving traces of the original weaving.

The work draws Tapestry and patchwork together as related forms of textile making, where individual pieces gain new relationships through assembly.

I am interested in what happens when a finished textile is treated as material rather than an endpoint. Cutting becomes a way of opening the work to another possibility within what already exists. The resulting piece carries both the history of the original tapestry and the evidence of its transformation. taken in Australian Tapestry Workshop by @studiopcl

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Some recent works sold and shipped for an interiors project in London.
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#textileart #patchworkpainting #patchworks by @studiopcl

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Texture to run your fingers over…
I’ll be running a workshop this Saturday on @quiltynook with @zakfoster.quilts
Looking forward to it!
🤞 it all goes well! taken in River Studios by @studiopcl

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2 months ago

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End of Week 2 of 9 weeks as Artist in Residence @myfirbankgrammarschool
I’ve had the pleasure of working with the year10 visual arts class, firstly getting familiar with basic hand embroidery stitches, and next week- patchwork- before they start to create their own characters!

Some patchworks I created this past week from naturally dyed strings, squares and triangle scraps and crumbs.

#patchwork #improvpatchwork taken in Firbank Grammar School by @studiopcl

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3 months ago

WORKSHOP | Slow Stitching with Phong Chi Lai

Unwind and stitch slowly with Phong Chi Lai (Studio PCL) in this hands-on embroidery workshop. Using ATW’s botanically dyed yarns, you’ll learn decorative stitches and create your own sampler on hand-loomed linen. Experiment with colour, texture, and pattern to build a unique embroidered textile swatch.

Perfect for beginners and seasoned crafters alike, this workshop celebrates mindful making and the simple pleasure of working with your hands. All materials are included and yours to keep. You’ll take home linen, an ATW botanical thread pack, and an embroidery needle, neatly packed in a calico drawstring bag for continued stitching at home.

🗓 Saturday 15 August
🕑 1pm - 4pm
📍 Australian Tapestry Workshop
🎟️ Cost: Adult: $125 | Concession/ATW Friends: $115 | Student: $105
🔗 Book via link in bio

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Photography by Phong Chi Lai, Marie-Luise Skibbie and ATW. @studiopcl by @studiopcl

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