Aug 28 – Oct 4, 2025 – Naess Gallery
The Naess Gallery is excited to present FELT FUSION, by artist duo Deanne Underwood (Prairie Girl Felting) and Vicki Sullivan. Both artists explore the possibilities of felt in the contemporary art setting, with a fascination for the prairie landscape, as well as the diverse range of the Canadian landscape.
Opening Reception: Thursday, September 4th, 6:00 – 8:00
Join us Thursday evening to celebrate a stunning collection of felted and encaustics works at the Naess Gallery. Both artists Deanne Underwod and Vicki Sullivan will be in attendence.
Artist Statements
Vicki Sullivan: I am a translator, expressing the essence of natural beauty through the language of texture, colour and vibrancy with the novel artform of needle-felted wool and specialty fibres. The stunning landscapes of Canada and cherished memories of travels abroad provide an endless reservoir of inspiration.
Deanne Underwood: Felt is a perfect medium for Canadian landscape. It is soft and strong in equal measure. The fibers both absorb and reflect light, creating a feeling of comfort alongside jewel-bright intensity. It is possible to create a vast range of texture, play of light and palpable physical depth within a single landscape. Between this fascinating medium and the boundless inspiration of Canadian places, both wild and tamed, I will never run short on inspiration.
Artist Bios
The grand-daughter of a talented blacksmith artist, Vicki Sullivan was born to create. All her life, she dabbled in drawing, pastels, water colour and acrylic painting, clay modelling, bone-carving and even glass-blowing. While she made strides and her skills grew, none of these lit her heart on fire in a lasting way. Then one fall evening a friend introduced her to the artform known as needle-felting.
Her website is: https://www.vickisullivanart.com/
Instagram handle: @vickisullivan.art
Deanne Underwood grew up in a military family, moving from Labrador to Manitoba and finally Saskatchewan. She became a professional dancer after graduation, taking her from Toronto to Vancouver. Deanne has been a resident of Edmonton, Alberta since 2003, raising a family and running her own business as an RMT. After retiring in 2021, she began creating felt art full time.
According to the artist, “I fell in love with felt art at a young age. What began as a passionate hobby in 2020 has now grown into a full time business.”
Her website is: https://www.prairiegirlfelting.ca/
Instagram handle: @prairiegirlfelting
Naess Gallery
10032 81 Avenue | Phone: 780 432 0240 | Email: studio@paintspot.ca
Named for Sidsel Naess Bradley, The Paint Spot’s founder. who recognized the need for spaces that promote the exploration of artistic ideas and innovative processes. We are extremely proud of this heritage and its contribution to the development of many artists. Naess Gallery continues to be inclusive, encouraging dialogue among artists and visitors. We welcome proposals for exhibitions that push materials, techniques, subject matter, and conceptions.
In planning the Exhibition Year, we will be inviting artists whose practices we admire to exhibit their new works. It will be a year to revisit artists who have shown in the Naess Gallery in the past and to reveal new artists as well. We are going to see an exciting and enriching program of shows! If you have questions about the Naess Gallery or its exhibition program, please ask Kim Fjordbotten phone 780 432 0240.
See what’s new at the Naess Gallery, or be inspired by past artist talks.
Paper Show (A Place of Meeting) (Oct 11 – Nov 18) – See our call for artworks for our next show all about paper! Paper Show call for Works