Yarn on Linen
153cm (H) x 115cm (W)
"You Yangs in Spring" by Monica Henry is a richly textured yarn-on-linen piece that captures the emotional resonance of place and memory. Inspired by the distinctive granite peaks of the You Yangs—seen from the road as one returns to Geelong—the work evokes a powerful sense of homecoming. This familiar view, often glimpsed after long absences, becomes a symbol of belonging and rootedness.
The landscape is reimagined through the tactile language of layered stitch and colour. Earthy greens and deep forest tones echo the rugged terrain and ancient boulders, while pastel pinks, warm ochres, and soft blues conjure the shifting light of a spring sky. Each section flows into the next with gentle rhythm, reflecting the natural movement of land and air, and the emotional pulse of return.
Monica’s intricate hand stitched work invites the viewer to slow down and explore the surface—every stitch a quiet mark of presence, reflection, and care. The work balances abstraction with familiarity, offering both a personal landscape and a shared visual memory. As with much of her practice, this piece is as much about feeling as it is about place, capturing the quiet beauty of change, memory, and the comfort of returning home.
You Yangs in Spring - Monica Henry
Monica Henry is a contemporary Australian artist based in Geelong, Victoria, whose richly detailed textile and floral artworks reflect a lifelong passion for fabric, colour, and craft. With a background in visual arts and design, her practice is shaped by her family’s generational ties to the wool industry, and by formative experiences living abroad—particularly in Japan, where the aesthetics and deep respect for materials left a lasting influence.
Monica holds an Advanced Diploma of Visual Arts and has studied across disciplines including fabric design, life drawing, screen-printing, and painting. Her work has evolved into a personal form of textile expression where botanical motifs, rhythmic stitching, and layered textures converge. Using a variety of wools and yarns—often sourced locally—she creates immersive pieces that invite pause, reflection, and emotional connection.
Nature, movement, and the tactile quality of textiles are central to her work, which is known for its depth, softness, and continuous flow. “There’s no set beginning or end,” she says. “Just a moment to pause and wander.”
Monica’s work is held in private collections across Australia and internationally, including the USA, Japan, Europe, and New Zealand.