Interviews

Simone Elizabeth Saunders creates soft textures with strong messages

Through the vivid language of punch needle tapestry, Simone Elizabeth Saunders reclaims and reimagines Western art histories. A Canadian artist of Jamaican and African descent, Simone weaves narratives of Black womanhood, liberation and ancestral connection into lush, large-scale works rooted in Art Nouveau, the Renaissance and her own lived experience. In this conversation, she shares the spiritual, symbolic, and technical dimensions of her extraordinary practice.

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Simone Elizabeth Saunders - Friday Feature Artist

Host: Jo Wright

Show Notes

Textiles are so soft and tactile, and yet I love that duality – that they can carry powerful statements. There’s resistance in that softness.
– Simone Elizabeth Saunders

Takeaways from this episode

Textile as resistance.
Simone’s work embraces fibre as both a medium of comfort and a mode of resistance. She uses punch needle to challenge historical omissions, recasting European art traditions through the lens of Black femininity and empowerment. Her works speak in soft textures, but their messages are strong.
Portraiture as spiritual connection.
The women in Simone’s tapestries are more than subjects – they’re ancestors, celestial beings, and carriers of personal and collective histories. She begins each portrait with the eyes, anchoring the viewer in a powerful, intentional gaze. “It’s reciprocity,” she says, “between me and the women I depict.”.
Symbolism in every thread.
From Renaissance flora to Caribbean fruit, Simone’s imagery is steeped in layered meaning. Each work is the result of deep research, poetic reflection, and cultural referencing – a slow and reverent act of storytelling in yarn.
Creating from identity, not expectation.
Rather than making what others want to see, Simone crafts what she needs to see – artworks that hold joy, rest, grace, and power for Black women. She reminds artists that “you are unique, you are special, and you have your own voice.”
The art of slowing down.
Simone’s practice is grounded in stillness, rest, and sacred attention. She honours her process through poetry, research, and spacious thinking. Her studio is a sanctuary, her punch needle a spiritual tool – and her art, a lasting legacy.

Explore the artwork from this episode below

During the live interview, we shared some images of Simone’s artwork. Since you’re listening to the podcast version, we’ve made these images available for you below.

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