The Red Dress

380 Embroiderers. 51 Countries. 1 Dress.

A 14-year global collaborative embroidery project, The Red Dress was conceived by British artist Kirstie Macleod to provide a platform for individuals to tell their stories through embroidery. In a coup for Queensland, The Red Dress will be presented at Museum of Brisbane and Warwick Art Gallery giving audiences right across the state the chance to see this beautiful work.

From 2009 to 2023, the dress travelled the world, embroidered by 367 women, 11 men, and two non-binary artists from 51 countries. Now complete, the 6.8 kg dress is covered in an estimated 1–1.5 billion stitches and has been exhibited in galleries worldwide.

The Australian contribution to The Red Dress is an embroidery, created by 24 members of Brisbane's Allthreads community, that captures our unique flora, and fauna. Museum of Brisbane is honoured to present this extraordinary project and looks forward to welcoming the embroidery and textile community, audiences from diverse cultural backgrounds, and those interested in seeing the details of this artwork up close for the first time in Australia.

Presented by Museum of Brisbane and Warwick Art Gallery with support from Allthreads Embroidery, Queensland Women's Historical Association, Queensland Embroidery Guild, NWCQ and private donors.

The Red Dress project is supported by charities, social enterprises, and funding bodies, including the British Council Dubai, Arts Council England, and others.