Amelia Cross's 'Sewn Paintings' Merge Tailoring and Trompe-L'œil at Nino Mier Gallery

London-born artist Amelia Cross combines bespoke tailoring and trompe-l'œil painting in her 'sewn paintings,' on view at Nino Mier Gallery in New York through August 7. After earning a degree in bespoke tailoring from London College of Fashion and a master's in painting from the Royal College of Art, Cross began merging the two disciplines. Her works stretch canvas over wooden armatures, treating them as bodies to dress, and incorporate sewn pockets, collars, and buttons alongside painted objects. The solo exhibition 'Discipline and Display' explores dress codes, uniforms, and hidden social rules. Cross often conceals secrets in the works, such as painted inner collar labels or messages inside pockets, inviting close inspection. She draws inspiration from observing commuters on the London Underground, where tight crops reveal only partial clothing details. The pieces challenge viewers to distinguish real three-dimensional elements from painted illusions.