ABOUT

Sterling Rose Kelly (they/them) is a trashy textile artist, scavenger stitcher, storyteller, bass player and a glitch in the binary code.

Their sharpened needles and threads patch together music subculture and football fan culture histories with folklore and magic; stitching together the links between people, nature and the fluid universe.

Using textile repair techniques, scavenged materials and glittery-kitsch treasures, they explore cycles of death and rebirth, trauma and healing.

Sterling’s storytelling voice weaves and twists its way through the artwork, joining the lines of the constellation with what they describe as post-apocalyptic pagan-punk folk stories, always asking:

What do we scavenge from the ashes?

How do we grow back stronger?

Sterling has been featured as a model and creative in Converse x Liverpool FC collaborations for S/S23, AW23, and S/S24. They also featured in the Converse XXHI re-launch in 2024.

They were featured by Manchester-based subculture brand Underground England, discussing gender, music and the future of subculture. https://underground-england.com/bold-bloody-and-brilliant-an-interview-with-manchester-based-punk-band-the-red-stains/?fbclid=PAVERFWANDof5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABp_O1RwCNwKPb0P4Frj-P0QSIZBFQDTCeCwCeDfaQlJZP3wuF-ONTXB7ktO0B_aem_EIn4utDnwE0TSwXyOwBT0Q

Sterling has also been involved with women’s football and fashion festival Get Your Kits Out Festival in 2024 and 2025. Their Kit Cat and Lucky Cat keyring charms were featured in the GYKO 2025 fashion showcase, which brought together clothing and accessories made by female and non-binary football fans in a celebration of football fan culture.

They have discussed the making of, and the meanings behind, their Kit Cat crochet keyring charms with SEASON Zine. https://www.instagram.com/p/DRrh0WKjGC8/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link