Textile art is one of the oldest and most beautiful forms of human technology. We’ve been weaving, embroidering, sewing, and crafting pieces for thousands of years and are still coming up with new ways to create. Especially over the last hundred years, artists have been doing incredible things with textiles and have been pushing the medium forward and advocating for textile’s place among other fine art mediums.
The wonderful thing about creating with yarn, thread, fabric, and more is that you can create something beautiful at any skill level. With excellent online retailers making it easy to access the best selection of the top yarn at any time, there really is no limit to what you can create. To get your creative juices flowing, here’s a list of just a few artists around the world who have made beautiful textile art.
Faith Ringgold
Artist and activist Faith Ringgold began her career in textiles working with traditional Tibetan thangkas before crafting her first quilt with the help of her mother. Born in Harlem, Ringgold focused on depictions of Harlem residents and she used visual storytelling to explore topics related to history and race.
Alexandra Kehayoglou
This Argentinian-born artist creates hand-tufted rugs that are designed to look like aerial views of soothing, pastoral landscapes. Kehayoglou collects yarn from the carpet factory her family runs and works with the material until it resembles grass, moss, and water. Her work has found its place both in homes and in art galleries, as the artist is known to encourage people to interact with her work.
Billie Zangewa
In response to the larger-than-life, religious, and mythological scenes that are typically depicted in tapestries, Zangewa uses the medium to depict the finer details of everyday life. Focused on domesticity and what was otherwise known as “women’s work,” these tapestries take up space with the realities of life that have often been omitted from fine art.
Zangewa’s tapestries depict the artist taking a shower, reading a magazine, carrying her son in the kitchen, and more. She focuses on the more mundane aspects of domestic life and gives them the attention that was otherwise reserved for grandiose subjects.
Pia Camil
Back in 2005, this Mexican artist handed out 800 free ponchos, capes, and jackets at Frieze New York to be worn or used as a picnic blanket. Inspired by other textile artists before her, Camil wanted the ponchos to be animated by the people who interacted with her work. The artist has also created abstract renditions of abandoned Mexico City billboards using hand-dyed fabrics.
What Will You Make?
These artists have created works that tackle large themes while making important social commentary. But that doesn’t mean that you have to do the same to make something that is valuable to you or someone you love.
Looking at the work of other artists is a simple and enjoyable way to collect ideas for your own projects. You could be inspired to work with certain colors, or to make something that is both decorative and functional. Even working with the simplest knitting and crochet techniques can yield gorgeous results. Good luck and happy crafting!
