Textile art continues to evolve, gaining more recognition in the contemporary art world. In an Artsy article, Maxwell Rabb spoke with top curators about key trends for 2025. Many pointed to fiber art as a growing force in exhibitions and critical discourse. Their insights reveal a shift toward handmade, tactile, and sustainable practices.
2025 Trends in Fiber Art
Aindrea Emelife notes, “There is a resurgence of practices rooted in the handmade, the tactile, and the labor-intensive: qualities that seem to counteract the rapid, intangible nature of our digital age. Artists are rediscovering textiles, ceramics, and traditional techniques, imbuing them with contemporary meaning to bridge past and present.” This return to craft signals a deep need for connection—both to history and to the physical world.
Sustainability is also shaping the future. Clare Lilley predicts, “Indigenous and First Nations art will continue to come to the fore, frequently intersecting with eco-sustainability and nature connectedness. And in this and other respects, I think we’ll see more artists embracing ‘craft’ and natural materials, such as clay and textiles.” As climate concerns grow, artists are turning to fiber as a medium that carries cultural memory and environmental consciousness.
Moreover, Blanca de la Torre and Kati Kivinen echo this idea. They see, “Lots of attention to textile works and other crafts and artisan traditional techniques, new materialities, and discourses that tackle the socioecological complexities of ecology and the climate crisis that we face.” Expect more artists using fiber to explore urgent global issues.
Also, curators predict that fiber art will take center stage in major exhibitions. “In 2025, I anticipate a continued and growing focus on exhibitions that highlight and center artists using fiber as a key material in their artistic practice.” states Larry Ossei-Mensah. These 2025 trends in fiber art is an exciting shift. More museums and galleries are finally recognizing textile artists as key players in contemporary art.
Looking Ahead
The year ahead promises more visibility, more dialogue, and more innovation in textile art. Artists will use fiber to challenge boundaries, tell stories, and engage with pressing social and environmental issues.
For a deeper dive into what’s coming in 2025, check out the full article on Artsy.
English 