Artists use a variety of tools and techniques to share their unique messages with audiences and develop an authentic visual language. Thus, apart from traditional oil and watercolor, many contemporary artists experiment with a variety of materials. Some are distinguished by applying textiles in art, weaving their artistic ideas into impressive examples of fiber art. Here is a recap of the most notable textile exhibitions and shows held in 2024, highlighting the present-day trends in this art field.

Best Art Textiles Exhibitions of 2024

In 2024, all textile art fans gathered at the following venues to celebrate the use of fiber in creative self-expression.

#1 Unravel: The Power and Politics of Textiles in Art

Held at the Barbican Art Gallery in London from February 13 through May 26, the exhibition was dedicated to the topic of dissent and the use of textiles as a vehicle for raising political consciousness. Unravel featured works by 45 artists from over a dozen countries, including the star of this year’s Venice Biennale, Jeffrey Gibson.

#2 Lee ShinJa: Weaving the Dawn

From August 22 to September 28, Tina Kim Gallery in New York held an exhibition of the Korean artist Lee ShinJa. The show was dedicated to postwar fiber art, with Lee ShinJa exploring the difficulties of textile art production in the post-war period. Weaving the Dawn presented the artist’s life-long career development, from her early efforts in textile art to mature works of the 1990s, including the famous “Spirit of the Mountain.”

#3 Diedrick Brackens: Blood Compass

Diedrick Brackens: Blood Compass was on display at Jack Shainman Gallery in New York, following the success of the past exhibition dedicated to the far-reaching effects of AIDS, held amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s show, which was on view from April 25 through June 1,  presented a deeply mysterious series by Brackens, reminiscent of the aboriginal African art motifs in the artistic legacy of Bill Traylor and Kara Walker. The silhouettes painted on hand-dyed cotton created an unforgettable impression with their strong symbolic meaning.

#4 Julia Bland: Rivers on the Inside

Another New York exhibition of textiles in art was held at Derek Eller Gallery from April 25 to May 25. It featured works by Julia Bland, a talented artist working with fiber to present a contemporary reinterpretation of old motifs. Bland presented her experimental work that blended the hippie tie-dye traditions of the 1960s with the early 20th-century art schools, merging into a unique balance of craft and fine art in one bottle.

With so much happening in the world of art, you’re sure to find many other textile exhibitions of interest across the United States, Europe, and other parts of the world. Stay tuned for the news from 300Magazine!