As we step into 2025, it’s a great time to reflect on the incredible progress textile art made last year. In Art in America, curator and art historian Glenn Adamson highlighted the top ten textile exhibitions of 2024. His selections show that textile art is finally gaining more recognition in contemporary discussions.
Adamson reminds us of textile art’s long history: “Textile, of course, is among the most ancient of human endeavors; tapestry once outranked painting in the hierarchy of the arts. But modern fiber art has rarely gotten its respect.” This rings true for many in the textile art community, who have long fought for equal recognition alongside other mediums.
Some of the exhibitions Adamson highlighted featured pioneering artists like Lenore Tawny. Others showcased contemporary voices, such as Diedrick Brackens. As a result of these choices, the evolving landscape of textile art becomes very obvious. Adamson also points out the biases that have kept textile art on the sidelines for so long. “A genre rooted in ancient techniques, adjacent to amateur pursuits, and—above all—mainly practiced by women and people of color? That was never going to command elite institutional attention for long.” Acknowledging this history is a key step toward change.
Despite this, Adamson remains hopeful. He believes art history is beginning to correct its past mistakes. “Textiles offer much of what the art world is looking for right now: under-explored histories, personal narrative, material intelligence, and demographic diversity.” This shift aligns with the mission of Textile Art Insider, which is committed to elevating textile artists and their work.
Here are the top ten textile exhibitions of 2024, as selected by Adamson:
- Olga De Amaral at Fondation Cartier pour l’art Contemporain, Paris
- “Barbara Chase-Riboud: Everytime A Knot is Undone, A God is Released” at Musée d’Orsay, Palais de la Porte Dorée, Musée du Louvre, Philharmonie de Paris, Centre Pompidou, Musée du Quai Branly, Musée Guimet, and Palais de Tokyo, Paris
- “Lenore Tawney and Toshiko Takaezu: A Remarkable Friendship” at Alison Jacques Gallery, London
- “Weaving Abstraction in Ancient and Modern Art,” Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City
- “Julia Bland: Rivers on the Inside,” Derek Eller Gallery, New York City
- “Diedrick Brackens: Blood Compass“ at Jack Shainman, New York.
- Foreigner’s Everywhere,” the 2024 Venice Biennale
- “Lee ShinJa: Weaving the Dawn” at Tina Kim Gallery, New York
- “Unravel: The Power and Politics of Textiles in Art,” at Barbican Art Gallery, London, and Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam
- “Woven Histories: Textiles and Modern Abstraction”, National Gallery of Art, Washington DC, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art
In short, as we move forward, it’s crucial to continue supporting textile artists. They deserve the same recognition, funding, and opportunities as those working in other mediums. By uplifting their work, we celebrate the deep histories, personal stories, and cultural richness woven into textile art.
For a deeper dive into Adamson’s insights, check out his full article in Art in America.
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