David Poyant
Artist Bio
David Poyant – Embroidery Artist
David Poyant is a self-taught embroidery artist from New Bedford, Massachusetts, whose journey into the art world began after a long and fulfilling career in shoe repair, orthotics, and retail. What started as a quiet tribute to his late mother—who spent countless evenings sewing while classic television shows played in the background—has blossomed into a remarkable second career defined by patience, passion, and purpose.
Working entirely by hand, David’s intricate thread paintings transform traditional embroidery into fine art. Each piece is stitched one thread at a time, a meditative process that often takes more than sixty hours to complete. His subjects range from coastal New England landscapes and maritime life to wildlife, cosmic imagery, and cultural narratives inspired by his son Ryan’s experiences with the Maasai Tribe in Africa. Through every stitch, David invites viewers to pause and reflect—to find beauty, emotion, and memory woven into each fiber.
In just a few short years, David has earned international recognition for his innovative approach to embroidery. His work has been exhibited at the New Bedford Art Museum, Gallery X, The Narrows Center for the Arts, and The Collaborative, among others. He has also been featured in Artsy Shark, ArtiSonits Magazine in Canada, The New Bedford Light, and Art Matters with Wayne Quackenbush.
Among his many honors, David has received the Massachusetts Cultural Council Grant, the Exhibizone Grand Prize, and international awards such as The Protagonist of Contemporary Art in Saint-Paul de Vence, France, and The International Prize Côte d’Azur at the Musée National du Sport in Nice.
Today, David continues to expand the reach of his art through exhibitions and books. His mission is to blend tradition and technology—preserving the timeless craft of embroidery while using modern tools to share stories that connect people, places, and time.