Artist Talk - Quest for the Perfect Shirt

Date: Thursday 11th September 2026
Time: 6:30pm – 8pm

Join artist tailor Richard Bliss for a thought-provoking friday evening talk.

A shirt is a simple thing.  Front, back, sleeves.  So why is it so difficult to find the perfect shirt?  Sometimes a shirt feels just right. We wear the shirt, we wash the shirt, we wear the shirt again. Over time the shirt becomes a container of memories, a marker of confidence, a keeper of secrets. For me shirts are containers of masculinity.

Since 2017, Richard has created more than 100 handmade shirts as part of an ongoing artistic project investigating the many ways masculinity is understood, performed and experienced. Each shirt tells a story, sparking conversations about identity, confidence, vulnerability and belonging. Together, these works have inspired over 1,000 conversations and have been exhibited, including a major exhibition at Bishop Auckland Town Hall in 2024.

During this relaxed illustrated talk, Richard will share the stories behind the project, the conversations it has generated, and how a simple shirt can become a powerful symbol of memory, identity and self-expression.

Whether you’re interested in art, textiles, identity, or simply enjoy hearing the story behind a remarkable creative project, this promises to be an engaging and thought-provoking evening.

We’ll welcome you with a complimentary glass of wine, and there will be plenty of opportunity for questions and discussion afterwards.