Patrick Carroll, a 34-year-old textile artist based in Los Angeles, has emerged as a significant new voice in contemporary art and fashion. Originally from the Bay Area, Carroll moved to Los Angeles after earning an M.F.A. in fiction from the University of California, Riverside. His journey into textile art began during the COVID-19 lockdowns as a therapeutic activity while grieving for his father, who had recently passed away through physician-assisted suicide. Carroll turned to knitting, creating garments and textiles with powerful single-word messages using a vintage knitting machine he acquired.
Carroll's unique creations caught the attention of fashion designer Jonathan Anderson, who featured some of Carroll's sweaters in a JW Anderson runway show in spring 2023. Beyond fashion, Carroll's work has evolved into what he describes as "picture poem paintings," large knitted panels that incorporate text to evoke emotions and memories. This art form blends Carroll's literary background with his textile skills, often featuring words like “refusal” or “surrender.”
Despite not being represented by a gallery, Carroll has held five solo shows and recently participated in a significant exhibition at the JW Anderson boutique during Milan's Salone del Mobile design fair. His current studio in Los Angeles is filled with vibrant yarns and ongoing projects that reflect his continued exploration of language, identity, and expression through textiles.