Allegory of the Artist

Artist Statement

Sammy Millwood’s embroidery practice reimagines self-portraiture through the lens of online femininity and sexuality. Her work bridges digital aesthetics with embroidery’s tactile history, merging past and present.

In Allegory of the Artist, Millwood explores five dimensions of her creative self, each embodying a vital force: Procrastination allows subconscious ideas to surface; Pleasure embraces sensory experience; Preparation brings order; Inspiration perceives awe and beauty. At the centre, Creation unites these elements, guiding her thread through the continuous dialogue between self-expression and shared tradition.

Millwood’s art offers a layered portrait of creativity in the digital age. In this reimagined positioning of a classic work, each of the personified subjects explores aspects of Sammy’s lived experience and her joy in making art everyday.