The UC Davis Design Museum opens its 2026-2027 season with  Connecting Threads (together): Textile Works by Lynn Setterington which opens on Sept. 29 and runs through Nov. 20.  

Collaboration is at the heart of textile making and this idea is explored in a display of work by UK based artist Setterington. Through textiles the artist challenges contemporary issues in society and how stitch can be used to commemorate people and communities.

Lynn Setterington is an ethnographic embroiderer who communicates with the world through stitch. she has worked with underserved communities across the globe, including the UK, India, Bangladesh, Brazil and USA. She draws on popular culture and textile history to raise awareness of societal issues. Themes range from sustainability, place, well-being and identity and belonging

Setterington’s quilts and cloths are held in many public collections including the V&A, Crafts Council, Denver Museum and the Whitworth Art Gallery. Tirzah Garwood’s notion of the ‘sophisticated naive’ resonates with her approach. She is the author of Connecting Threads: Tactile Social History, published by Quick Thorn Books. a trustee for Venture Arts and the Textile Society of the UK.

Born in Yorkshire, Setterington trained at Goldsmith’s College, London and her PhD is from UCA Farnham. She is a freelance artist and creative consultant. She left academia in 2025 after 30 years as a Senior Lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University.

The exhibition was previously exhibited at the Fashion and Textile Museum in London.

The Design Museum, part of the College of Letters and Science and free to the public, is in 124 Cruess Hall. 

The UC Davis Design Museum is open Monday–Friday, noon-4 p.m. 

To arrange a group visit, or for further information please call (530) 752-6150 or email tplance@ucdavis.edu.