Dejah Sykes

Title: Three Canyons, Five Days


After a recent visit to the American Southwest, I was inspired by the textures and forms sculpted through time and the elements within its canyons. I translated these landscapes using freehand machine quilting, deliberately juxtaposing the solidity of rock with the softness of the fabric. I chose to make them solid black with black stitching to echo this solidity, making the focus of the piece the abstract patterns left by erosion.

Medium: quilts
Size: 

Location: London, UK

Creative Experience 

My artistic practice explores the interplay of texture and form. I've always been drawn to patterns, especially those with stories from different cultures. Because of my experience growing up in transracial foster care, piecing together different visual ideas felt like creating my own cultural story, a language that was uniquely mine. This has naturally led me to the incredible patterns in the world around us, particularly in nature. 

My recent adventure through the stunning landscapes of the American Southwest, from the surreal salt flats to exploring the breathtaking canyons, has really influenced what I'm making now. Textiles are an accessible way for me to explore texture and pattern at the moment, using this tactile approach is rooted in a lifelong compulsion to create, born from a deep appreciation for the transformative power of materials. 

My journey, encompassing years spent as an art teacher, observing the diverse learning styles of young people, and subsequent studies and experience of working as an art psychotherapist, has further deepened my understanding of the fundamental importance of creativity as a means of expression, healing, and connection.

Biography and links

Dejah is a UK-trained artist whose foundation in ceramics and knitted textiles informs her multifaceted career. Her early experience as an art teacher for 11-18-year-olds, where she fostered creative confidence and served as Head of Year, ignited a passion for supporting individual well-being. This led to counselling training and work as a home school support worker.

Following time dedicated to raising her children, Dejah returned to education through creative workshops and part-time teaching, experiences that paved the way for her training as an art psychotherapist. Currently practising as an integrative arts therapist in schools and private practice in West London, where she lives with her family, Dejah continues to integrate her artistic background with her therapeutic work.

Exhibition / Gallery

2025 - Title: Three Canyons, Five Days

      • Mayor's Gallery, Las Vegas, US (Work on display: IRL)