The Hunt Museum will host a tapestry connecting innovative, forward-thinking women

A COLLABORATION of art and science will engage with women in minority communities, through textile creation and science innovation. 

The Hunt Museum will host a unique exhibition titled Cut From The Same Cloth, which merges art, science, and community.

The handwoven tapestry, created by artist Lorna Donlon, tells the stories of local minority communities and biomedical researchers, bridging personal and scientific narratives through fabric.

As part of UCD Conway Institute’s Patient Voice in Health Research initiative, the project highlights the vital importance of including diverse voices in health research. 

During 2024’s Get Togethers, researchers and community members exchanged stories through fabric, with subjects ranging from cultural traditions and lived experiences to cancer research and antibiotic resistance. 

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This exhibition invites visitors to explore the intersection of these voices, highlighting how we are all 'cut from the same cloth', with each fabric story a doorway into the patterns of a person’s life. 

Lorna Donlon is a tapestry weaver who merges the ancient art of weaving with scientific concepts. 

With a degree in Cell and Molecular Biology, she creatively bridges art and science through tapestry and installations inspired by the scientific practices of categorising and labelling nature.

The exhibition is running from April 17 to May 29, at the Hunt Museum, with free admission.

Teresa Crowley, CEO and Director of the Hunt Museum said, “This exhibition is a powerful reminder of the importance of inclusion, and we’re thrilled to share these inspiring stories with our visitors.”

Lorna Donlon, Cut From the Same Cloth, Founder and Artist spoke about the project, “Creating Cut From The Same Cloth has been a deeply meaningful process, weaving together not just fabric but the stories of individuals who are often overlooked in research. By reimagining biomedical data as art, I hope to show how science and personal experience are connected, reminding us all that every thread in our community matters.”

A special free event will be held on Thursday, 24 April, from 4-5pm, featuring insights from Elaine Quinn (UCD Conway Institute), Lorna Donlon, and community participants, along with a chance to view the powerful tapestry.