Embroidery Magazine, September/October 2025
Review of ‘Airing’ exhibition at Tension Gallery, London.
TexTile Protest BY julia Triston
‘A landmark survey of how textiles have been used for political protest in the 20th and 21st centuries, including banners, flags, clothing and pieces from the world of fine art. Textile Protest showcases the richness and diversity of textiles that have been used to express resistance in its many forms. Protest textiles can be confrontational and explicit, satirical and subversive or ironic and humorous, and can be used to bridge gaps following conflicts, or to challenge the contentious issues of language, ideology or imbalances of power. Whether for social justice or peace, to demonstrate opposition to oppression or to celebrate liberty, to honour hope and equality or to express solidarity with others, people have made and united behind protest textiles for hundreds of years. This book forms a valuable history of their use’.
Published by Batsford Books, August 2025. ISBN 9781849949071.
Artists’ Tales Podcast
In conversation with Heather Martin. Series 4, Episode 6.
https://artiststales.buzzsprout.com/1854417/episodes/16501064-s4-e6-alison-aye?t=0
Artists and illustrators MAGAZINE, August 2024
Review of the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition. Adrian Mourby ‘speaks to six of those whose work will go on display for the first time’.
EMbroidery Magazine, July/August 2024
‘After 31 attempts to be selected for the Royal Academy Summer Show, Alison Aye (featured in Embroidery, May/June 2024) has finally cracked it. The 62 Group member’s work, ‘Shifting to the Moon’, has been accepted and will join the art of 1,153 other exhibitors. The artist told the Guardian that she didn’t know if she liked being recognised by the establishment and that there was a part of her that felt OK to be on the losing side’.
Observer, 9th June 2024
Article by Alice Fisher, headshot by Michelle Richards.
‘The 30-year pitch: artist finally picked for the Royal Academy summer show’.
Embroidery Magazine, May/June 2024
‘North and South. One of the newest members of the 62 Group, Alison Aye retains true northern grit, despite living in London since the 1980s’. Article by Ellen Bell.
BBC, 12th June 2023
Royal Academy Summer Exhibition: Who makes the cut? Article by Jacob Evans.
‘The Royal Academy's Summer Exhibition has for more than 250 years given amateur artists the chance to have their work displayed at its prestigious London headquarters. How difficult is it to make the grade - and which now famous artists failed to persuade the Academy of their genius?’
Joe Lycett: Summer Exhibitionist, BBC2 23rd July 2024
Producer/Director, Luke McMahon; Film Editor, Kristy Jane Breetzke; Executive Producer, Tom Currie; DOP, Tom Hayward; Creative Director, Abigail Priddle; Commissioning Editor, Mark Bell; Assistant Producer, Lulu Relf; Production Manager, Frances Kilgour; PMA, Rebecca Lee; Unit Manager, Claire McCluskey; Production Executive, Lisa Phelan; Bloke who filmed my bit, Jim Petersen.
radio Times, 23rd July 2022
Pick of the Day. Review of the above documentary by Jane Rackham.
‘Joe’s the perfect mix of charming, friendly, funny and encouraging as he chats to the hopefuls while they unwrap their pieces for the final judgement. It may surprise you which artworks are rejected but then, as Joe says consolingly to one disappointed person, “It is a bit of a lottery.” Collage-maker knows that very well. For thirty years she’s been unsuccessful with the works she’s entered. She’s trying again with a piece that’s called Rejection.’