In this episode of NeedleXChange I interview John Thomas Paradiso.

John Thomas Paradiso is a Washington-based artist who has been exploring the intimacy of gay culture through needlework for over 30 years.

Using hand embroidered quilting techniques, working on surfaces including leather and suede, and using traditional materials like doilies to mask the graphic parts of his subjects, John’s work treads the line between pornography and personal portraiture. His art is unapologetic in its openness and his expressions of the passion of gay love are both sensitive and sensational.

In our NeedleXChange we talk about how John’s artistic career has run alongside the timeline of the HIV pandemic, the value in re-appropriating homophobic slurs, and how his art has defined his own queer identity.

Timestamps:

00:00:00 - Intro

00:01:38 - How John’s subjects come into being

00:04:00 - Why John hand quilts his work

00:08:00 - The challenge of entering into quilt shows

00:16:00 - How John honours his feminine side and strives for masculinity

00:21:00 - Reflecting on his earlier work

00:23:00 - John’s definition of success

00:25:15 - Favourite Album

00:26:55 - Favourite Book

00:29:26 - Favourite Film

00:33:00 - John’s reflections on working in the care sector

Links:

Website: john-paradiso.com

Instagram: john_paradiso_artist

Intro music is Let's Go Find The Sun by Sarah the Illstrumentalist via Epidemic Sound.

About NeedleXChange:

NeedleXChange is a conversation podcast with embroidery and textile artists, exploring their process and practice.

Hosted by Jamie "Mr X Stitch" Chalmers, it is an in-depth showcase of the best needlework artists on the planet.

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If you want embroidery inspiration and regular doses of textile art, visit the Mr X Stitch site here: https://www.mrxstitch.com

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