Found materials, rote hand-making, social engagement
Carlyn Yandle is a Vancouver visual artist whose practice interweaves a childhood steeped in West Coast counter-culture, a range of traditional craft skills, and a previous career as a city newspaper journalist.
She finds inspiration by literally playing with ideas, often with others, and often using culturally-embedded found materials. Each crafted work intertwines three threads: the gathering of largely found materials, rote hand-making, and social engagement.
She works out of a studio in an old funeral home in Vancouver, B.C., and writes “Making Stuff and Writing About It” on Substack.
“Surrounded by hazardous conditions and materials, we find solace, joy and connection through the smallest actions of stitching, braiding, knotting, weaving and beading, opening up time to breathe, opening up space to share.”
Education
MFA, Emily Carr University of Art + Design (2020)
BFA, painting / sculpture, Emily Carr University (2010)
Print journalism certificate, Langara College
BA, sociology, University of Victoria
Selected press & exhibitions
Textile sculptors at GPAG eke abundance from a ravenous world, Coast Reporter
2026
Textile sculptors at GPAG eke abundance from a ravenous world, Coast Reporter
2026
Textile sculptors at GPAG eke abundance from a ravenous world, Coast Reporter
2026
The Rise of Craftivism, The Globe & Mail
2014
Fuzzy Logic: An Interview with Carlyn Yandle, Strange Material, Arsenal Pulp Press
2014
Selected exhibitions
2023
Nonreturnables · Two Rivers Gallery, Prince George, B.C.
2021
HEARTH: A Social Stitching Project · AMP Gallery, Vancouver
2020
MFA graduation show: Joyful Making in Perilous Times · Sculpture Gallery, Vancouver
2019
Leaning Out of Windows · Michael O’Brian Exhibition Commons, Vancouver
2018
Textile Narratives · Cityscape Community Art Space, North Vancouver
2016
The Network at Creative Cities Network Conference · Surrey City Hall
2016
Recent Paintings, featured artist · Vancity streetview gallery, Vancouver
2016
Artist in residence · Wallace Stegner House, Eastend, SKlery, Vancouver
2015
Moving Forward Looking Back, ECU 90th anniversary retrospective · Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Vancouver
2015
Lighthouse, Lumiere Festival · Alexandra Park, English Bay, Vancouver
2015
Family Fuse: The Network · Vancouver Art Gallery
2015
Under the Radar, with Anna Anaka and David Weir · Fir St. at West 2nd Ave., Vancouver
2014
City as Site: Public Art in Richmond · Richmond Art Gallery
2014
How Nice to Have a Hobby · Leigh Square Community Art Village, Port Coquitlam
2013
Unlaced · Queen Elizabeth Theatre Mezzanine Art Gallery, Vancouver
2013
Ironclad Art Manhole Design Challenge: Sanitary Doily · Interurban Gallery, Vancouver