Hi There, I'm Averil Stuart,

From an early age, I've always found satisfaction and solace in making art, but my real artistic journey began when I followed my heart, took a leap of faith and moved from New Zealand to the small medieval village of Introdacqua, in the hills surrounding the ancient city of Sulmona, in Abruzzo, Italy. 

Tucked away in our ancient wine cellar, now art studio, where for 10 years, I knuckled down to hone various art skills and techniques. 

Since then, I've exhibited my work, mainly in my own little gallery and throughout Italy, USA, Australia and NZ.

My work brings me contentment, joy, excitement, challenges and a reason to get up in the morning - if others find the same in my work, then it's a bonus.

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Juxtaposition.

I had an epiphany, albeit many years after I starting my art practice, 

'my art was about juxtaposition'. 

To finally know what my art was about has been a revelation. People, including my clients, would ask me what is my art about, I would briefly stumble my way through, saying it was mainly about the stories within the ephemera and how I give it another life in my artworks, which is true. But I always felt there was more to it than that, and even though I have used the juxtaposition card now and again, I didn't understand its significance! Now, if you were to ask me 'what is my art about?' I would reply with confidence 'it's about juxtapositions between the elements used. eg. 'Decay and Decadence' is an ongoing series and is clear when you view the piece below. You can see the decadence of the French chair and exquisite lace between that of the decaying fabrics and ephemera that surrounds them. 

Juxtapositions appear in every aspect of our lives. Textures, rough and smooth, silk and velvet, even in our families. Siblings that are carefree and generous, another may be serious, and worry about what people think about them and every step they take, and others are aloof, but kind. Yin and Yang, positive and negative. This subject is a continual source of fascination for me to explore. I talk about other aspects in my blog post 'My Art Wasn't Always like this'

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I live by these quotes daily:

"Life is like ART - it's all about taking RISKS"

"Trust in yourself and follow your own path, not that of someone else"

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You can follow me each week on Substack as I share

'My Haiku - My Art - My Life

I love to converse with fellow kindred spirits on the Internet - so reach out.

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CV:

From 2017 until 2021, I've taken time away from my art practice to concentrate on other business interests with my husband - but I'm back in my studio daily.

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2016: March 8th: NZ Life and Leisure Magazine: March/April 2016: An article about my textile journeys in Italy: 'That's Amore'
2015: December: Featured on Artsy Shark artist website: Artsy Shark feature
2015: June: Featured in The Thread Studio E Mag Infusion9
2015: May: Featured in Australian Downunder Textiles Magazine issue # 19.
2015: May: Gave a talk and showed my work at Christchurch Quilters.
2015: May: Arts Council Nelson Exhibition: (Juried) Changing Threads.....'Capestrano Warrior Unearthed # 1' Held at Refinery Artspace, Nelson: May 16th to June 6th.
2015: April: The Mail, local newspaper: An article relating to 'Messages for Gallipoli'
2015: Feb: NZ Quilt Symposium Manawatu. Out and About Exhibition. (Juried) 'Fantasy Forest'
2014: Published in Linda Seward's book The Ultimate Guide to Art Quilting: Surface Design (Fantasy Forest)
2013 April: Article in Sulmona:
http://www.reteabruzzo.com/2013/04/26/in-mostra-da-oggi-lartigianato-al-femminile/
2012: SAQA Exhibition European Du Patchwork, France. Wide Horizons lll.... (Juried) 'Fantasy Forest'
2010: 'Legato' Exhibition. Cassino, Italy,
2010: Onda TV Interview about 'Images of Introdacqua' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4mmHqNZQhY
2010: SAQA Exhibition Creative Force....... (Juried) 'Images of Introdacqua'
2010: SAQA Exhibition No Place to call home......(Juried) 'Where do we go From Here'
2009/10/11/12/13/14/15 Introdacqua: Eva's Arte Galleria Every August
2007: Florence Biennale
1998: Staveley NZ(Solo)
My art is in private collections in New Zealand, Australia, UK, Italy and USA.