Anne Jolly: A Life in Fibre, Texture and Colour

At ninety-one, Anne Jolly is proving that creativity has no expiry date. Currently exhibiting her Fibre Art Show Wabi Sabi at the Morrinsville Community Gallery, Anne’s work celebrates texture, colour, hand embroidery and the beauty of imperfection. This is her fourth time exhibiting at the gallery, and each return marks another chapter in a long, curious and ever-evolving creative journey.

Anne’s love of making began early. The only girl with two brothers, she spent formative years travelling by train to Timaru to stay with her grandmother, who taught her knitting, crocheting and tatting. During the war, Anne belonged to the Girls’ Brigade, knitting royal blue pullovers, socks and cardigans for airmen — dedication that earned her a badge for her uniform. These early experiences laid the foundation for a lifelong engagement with fibre and handcraft.

Wabi Sabi offers visitors a chance to experience the richness of Anne Jolly’s creative life — a body of work shaped by curiosity, resilience, humour and a profound love of fibre. And goodness knows where this exciting exhibition will take her next.