Islamic Art

In Conversation: Natalie Fisher

Discussions with pioneering needlepoint artist Natalie Fisher on Islamic architecture and design, navigating cultural appropriation versus appreciation, and the publishing of her first book

Needlepoint in front of the wall of inspiration, Samarkand, Uzbekistan, 2019 | Image courtesy of Natalie Fisher

Having followed Sydney-based needlepoint artist Natalie Fisher for a number of years, I finally got the opportunity to sit down with her and talk about her work. She’s had a busy couple of years, launching her first book as well as running a hugely successful community project in rural Australia. Here, we discuss her work, from her first steps in needlepoint to her future plans.

Let’s start by taking things back to the beginning: how did you first get into needlepoint?

I first got into it when I was thirteen. My aunt gave me a children’s tapestry starter kit with a little peacock design, probably about 10cm squared. From that moment on I just loved pulling the wool through the holes, and have had a project on the go ever since.

And how did you get from it being a hobby to it becoming the big, huge thing that has taken you around the world?

It was really down to the people that I knew, as I thought that I would be making them for my…