Making It
Yarn Portraits
Before we begin, I should warn you. Every portrait—and I do mean every portrait I show you in this post—is made out of yarn.
“Arsimmer, 2025″
This is going to be hard to believe at times. When a moment of doubt washes over you, which it inevitably will, give the photo a quick zoom-in and see the stitches for yourself.
I’ve been in a creative slump. This happens every once in a while, and I’ve realized that when that happens there is very little I can do to force myself out of it. One thing that works pretty much every time is an infusion of inspiration in the form of a field trip. Even better if that infusion includes yarn.
Samantha in front of “City Boys, 2025”
So on a blustery winter day, I pulled myself out of my hobbit hole and popped into the city to catch the Kandy G Lopez exhibition at the ACA Galleries on 10th Avenue, just beyond the shadow of the High Line in NYC.
I’ve been a big fan of Kandy’s work for a while now. I came across her on social media, and it’s been incredible to watch her career grow from afar. Kandy is an Afro-Caribbean portrait artist who uses yarn and fabric as her mediums. Like me, she is also from New Jersey. But, somehow, this was my first time seeing her work in person.
“Yani, 2025”
Something you can’t quite grasp on social media is the pure scale of her work in person. Her fiber portraits are larger than life. Some are seven or eight feet tall. Her subjects feel like at any moment they might decide to step off of the canvas to join you in the gallery. Some even have their feet dangling off of the edges as if they are thinking about doing just that.
The level of detail in these portraits is incredible. Every shadow is represented by a different yarn shade or stitch technique.
Kandy incorporates gold and metallic threads to represent chains and earrings, which dangle off of the canvas. I could stand in front of her work for hours, and each minute discover something I hadn’t seen on the first look.
A subject whose tattoos peek out from under his shirt. The texture on the bottom of a shoe sewn in a different direction to show depth. The links of a gold chain rendered in metallic thread. Kandy’s work is a marvel in yarn.
The exhibition, Textile Truths: Faces of Resilience, explores the connection between textiles and communities of color through themes of strength, vulnerability, courage, and perseverance. Her innovative “fiber paintings” blur the lines between painting and textile art. Standing in front of them, you can’t help but rethink the boundaries that have been imposed on both mediums.
The centerpiece works—”City Girls” and “City Boys”—are being shown together for the first time. Both are multi-figure compositions, each depicting seven larger-than-life figures. Standing in front of them, you feel the weight of what it means to be seen and to take up space in a room.
“Justice, 2025”
Maybe it’s because my mind is still on the Faith Ringgold exhibition from last month, but no sooner had I remembered that Faith Ringgold once said that her work was “paintings in the medium of quilting,” when I turned the corner into the next room to see two Faith Ringgold quilts peeking out.
The crossover makes complete sense. Two talented artists who found their voice through fiber across different decades. Both assert that textiles belong in the same conversation as “fine art,” then thoroughly prove their point.
What can be created with yarn will never cease to amaze me.
When I made my way back out to the cold New York street, I walked away with a full inspiration tank and a massive amount of respect for Kandy G Lopez.
The exhibition will be on view again Feb. 3 through March 7, 2026, at 529 West 20th Street, 5th Floor, New York. If you have the chance, run—don’t walk—to see these in person.
Header image: “City Girls, 2025.”
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Well. When you think of tapestry which has been respected and revered for centuries, hooked and woven rugs and sewn quilts, Kandy’s work should not surprise us. But it does! The sheer energy of her subjects jumps off her work which I think is the most striking feature of her art. Not to mention the time-consuming nature of it – also a feature of knitting. How did she create all these huge, highly detailed pieces and still have plenty of lifetime – I assume – left? Thanks for bringing this exhibition to our attention, Samantha. One of the many reasons I love New York. Kandy’s work reminds me of another amazing piece of textile art in an old issue of Threads magazine. A beautiful, nuanced portrait of an older (if I remember correctly) woman done entirely in clothes dryer lint. By its nature soft, subtle and hushed in appearance. Both works, though completely opposite in style, done with textiles, and both completely gorgeous.
Samantha, I’m blown away. Thank you so much for sharing this amazing work.
Amazing! Thank you for posting this article.
Oh my goodness – just amazing!
Wowsers! Samantha and MDK, thank you so much for this. I had to keep scrolling back to look at these over and over, often zooming in, as you suggested, to astound myself with the amazing artistry and – what’s the word? – power? expressiveness? – can’t think of a good one. I just know that these portraits made my heart beat a little faster; and each one left me grinning, every time. I’m just a little old white lady art lover who’s always lived in the country, so art from NYC is often impressive to me, but not usually so stunning. I did not know about Kandy G. Lopez before, but I’m going to learn all I can now. This might actually get me out of my own knitting slump! Sorry to go on – I wish I had the right words. Thank you!!
Thank you so much for sharing this! Just stunning!!!! Like you, my inspiration tank is low. I have a trip up to NYC next week and I will definitely make time to see this exhibit! As a former NJ resident, doubly excited to see this work as well as some Faith Ringgold!
A. Mazing. Thank you for sharing her work.
Just wow. So much talent.
Pure Genius! Thank you for sharing the work of Kandy G Lopez with us.
You stop. You turn. You glance to see if anyone else is impacted by the emotion that’s displayed in each one of these individual portraits. Because you are definitely impacted by them.
Sam, I love it when you come out of your hobbit hole and take us someplace with you. I totally hear what you’re saying about creative energy—it’s hard to tap into it every single day. Sometimes I just stop any creative work and take a break. One time that break was about eight years long lol.
These portraits are truly astonishing.
Sooooooo cool! I did have to zoom in to see those stitches. Thanks for sharing! Also love your pink coat, hat, and scarf.
All I can say is Wow!!
Awesome, inspirational; not enough words to describe.
Thank you, Samantha!
I am in awe. Fantastic portraits! I’m a knitter and an artist (painter) appreciating her creativity and chosen medium to do this beautiful, inspiring work. Wow! Thnx for sharing your experience and photos.
Wow, such amazing depth and detail. I am in awe of the never ending ideas artists can conjure up. Thank you so much for sharing.
I am totally gob-smacked. Just WOW.
MDK, you and your contributors take me such amazing places. Thank you very much!
absolutely amazing! I kept going back and forth looking at the pictures. Thank you for sharing. Wished I lived near by.
Stunning work, I wish I could see it in person. Thanks for sharing!
Wow!
Thank you so much for sharing, wishing I could see them in person.
And you look striking too! Love the pink and the scarf!
The energy is amazing…AMAZING!
Jaw-dropping! So happy to know about this incredible artist!
These are amazing! Thank you for sharing your visit with us. I love how some of them break out of the “canvas”. — Or maybe that is actually canvas. So wonderful.
I’ve seen and even tried embroidery painting but found I kept getting stuck by the needle! I’ve painted portraits with oils and see that Candy G. Lopez is an awesome talented artist. Beautiful. Thank you for introducing her to us.
Thank you thank you thank you for bringing this to my attention!!!! I so wish I could go to NY immediately to see this exhibit in person! What amazing art!!!!
Thanks for this and also the link back to your January 2nd post about Faith Ringgold. I remember seeing it, but must have gotten distracted midway. A second read was needed. I am really looking forward to seeing what these two exhibits inspire you to make. I so appreciate being introduced to new art.
Amazing seems too small a word for Kandy’s art! Samantha, thank you so much for introducing me to this wonderful artist!
Samantha and MDK – thank you! This is heartening to see on a sub zero disheartening kind of day in Minnesota. Such skill and so inspiring!
Thank you, Samantha for sharing the work of this fiber artist!! I think that what amazes us is the detail of her stitches. Her portraits show the dignity of the person(s).
She paints with yarn!! Wow!!
Wow! Just WOW!
Thank you Samantha!
I’m left with 2 deep impressions from your piece:
– How profound to pause & THINK about that feeling, when you’ve been denied for so long, to finally be gifted the opportunity to TAKE SPACE. I’m going to hold & live with that one for a long time; both from p.o.v. of my own similar, but relatively much smaller, denials and from my privilege that ought to be used more to share that gift.
– What… is it like… to play a game of… yarn chicken… on one of these… especially if a gallery has given you a deadline… O… M… G…
These works absolutely belong hanging on the same gallery walls as & in dialog with the works of Chuck Close & Andy Warhol, etc.
Some people just have a different kind of brain. Mine is so pedestrian, I can’t imagine conceiving these ideas, much less carrying them out. Such talent, skill and visualization – those jeans, those faces – wow, I am in awe! Thank you for sharing your field trip. And thank you, MDK. What a great way to start the day!
Amazing. Enlightening. Thank you so much. Looking forward to more insights from what you discover.
Thanks so much for this wonderful Wednesday gift! It really is an inspiration.
Amazing and beautiful!
Thank you!!! Those are spectacular! Oh to be able to see them in person!!!
Completely stunning. How wonderful you got to see them in person. Thank you so very much for sharing Samantha!