Public Art

Where giant stitch meets public space.

From suspended woven canopies to bold botanical tapestries, I expand the traditionally delicate craft of embroidery into architectural-scale art that can transform streets, atriums and community spaces.

Contemporary textile, responsibly made.

Using recycled rope and salvaged street banners, materials destined for landfill become luminous colour, texture, and presence that bring joy, depth and conversation to public environments.

Embroidery reinvented at scale.

These works aren’t just beautiful, they challenge expectations of fibre art, blending slow craftsmanship with bold public impact and sustainable practice.

Each installation tells a story of renewal, honouring place, people and the planet through tactile, site-responsive design.

Flourishing
2022

Medium: Recycled rope and repurposed street banners transformed into yarn
Dimensions: 31’2” x 5’9” x 0.8” (950 cm x 175 cm x 2 cm)
Date of Artwork: 2022
Artwork for Sale: Yes
Price: $50,000
Site / Location: Vulcan Lane, Auckland CBD, New Zealand
Commissioning Agent / Client / Public Art Program: Heart of the City, Auckland
Primary Discipline: Fibre Art
Description: Embroidered canopy installation suspended above Vulcan Lane. Using colourful recycled rope and street flags, the piece is both visually striking and environmentally conscious. It tells a story of sustainability while celebrating the beauty of our world.

Ōtara Public Suspended Artwork
2023

Medium: Durable recycled street flag banners and recycled plastic rope
Dimensions: 4’7” x 13’ x 3” (1.4 m x 4 m x 3”)
Date of Artwork: 2023
Artwork for Sale: No
Price: $10,000
Site / Location: Ōtara Shopping Centre, Auckland, New Zealand
Commissioning Agent / Client / Public Art Program: Ōtara Papatoetoe Local Board
Primary Discipline: Fibre Art
Description: Suspended above the mall, this vibrant public artwork was created collaboratively with the local community using recycled city flagpole banners. Designed to withstand the elements, its colourful composition celebrates local culture and incorporates the community’s iconic floral motifs.


Flourishing 2.0
2023

Medium: Recycled rope and repurposed street banners transformed into yarn
Dimensions: 31’2” x 5’9” x 0.8” (950 cm x 175 cm x 2 cm)
Date of Artwork: 2023
Artwork for Sale: Yes
Price / Commission Value: $50,000
Site / Location: Downtown Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA
Commissioning Agent / Client / Public Art Program: Downtown Colorado Springs
Primary Discipline: Fibre Art
Description: Large-scale embroidered canopy installation displayed vertically in public space for a one-year installation. Flourishing celebrates community, colour, and collective creativity, transforming the urban environment into a welcoming and vibrant shared experience.

Blissful
2024

Medium: Recycled rope and repurposed street banners transformed into yarn
Dimensions: 100 cm x 100 cm x 2 cm
Date of Artwork: 2025
Artwork for Sale: Yes
Price / Commission Value: $3,500
Site / Location: Parnell, Auckland
Commissioning Agent / Client / Public Art Program: Parnell Business Association
Primary Discipline: Fibre Art
Description: A woven tapestry installed on a Parnell lamppost in March 2024, transforming everyday streetscape infrastructure into a bold vertical artwork. Part of the Rediscover Parnell event. Created using reclaimed materials, the piece brought colour, texture and movement to the urban environment.

Restful
2024

Medium: Recycled rope and repurposed street banners transformed into yarn
Dimensions: 240 cm x 120 cm x 2 cm
Date of Artwork: 2025
Artwork for Sale: Yes
Price / Commission Value: $4,500
Site / Location: Parnell, Auckland
Commissioning Agent / Client / Public Art Program: Parnell Business Association
Primary Discipline: Fibre Art
Description: Installed above a Parnell laneway for Rediscover Parnell, this large-scale woven canopy invited viewers to look up and experience embroidery at architectural scale. Crafted from repurposed materials, it softened the built environment with rhythm, colour and shifting light.

Working With Frankie

Frankie Meaden's practice is grounded in material exploration and site-responsive thinking, with each project developed in response to its location, function, and audience. From early concept development through to fabrication and installation, Frankie approaches public work with a strong emphasis on collaboration, longevity, and clarity of process.

Some projects include participatory elements, where Frankie shares her creative process and invites guided collaboration within a structured framework. This approach allows communities to engage meaningfully with the work while maintaining the integrity and authorship of the final piece.

Public art projects typically involve:

  • Site and context research

  • Material testing and prototyping

  • Collaboration with stakeholders or community groups (where appropriate)

  • Fabrication and installation

  • Ongoing consideration of durability and maintenance

Frankie brings a calm, considered approach to commissioned work, with experience navigating the practical requirements of public and commercial projects. She is comfortable working within briefs, timelines, and constraints, and values clear communication throughout the process.

Contact

Enquiries for public artworks, commercial commissions, and collaborative projects are welcomed.

frankie@beautifullyfrank.com