LJ Roberts starts by stitching the faces of friends and lovers, recalling in hand-sewn portraits the contours of a saved photograph or deeply personal memory.
For the last decade, the artist has created these pocket-size embroideries during downtime and subway rides around New York.
A tapestry of queer and trans history, activism and politics has emerged, defined by the details: handmade protest signs, bumper stickers, pride flags and pet collars. “Carry You With Me: Ten Years of Portraits” marks a turning point in Roberts’ career, as institutions and collectors start investing in L.G.B.T.Q.
artists who use textiles to tell their stories. They are a dramatic departure from the billowing quilts and monumental collages that have earned the.