Sheila Hicks, The Principal Wife, ca. 1965, silk, linen, wool, synthetic fibers.
The process of creating textiles has long been a springboard for artistic invention. In Weaving Abstraction in Ancient and Modern Art, two extraordinary bodies of work separated by at least 500 years are brought together to explore the striking connections between artists of the ancient Andes and those of the 20th century. The exhibition displays textiles by four distinguished modern practitioners—Anni Albers, Sheila Hicks, Lenore Tawney, and Olga de Amaral—alongside pieces by Andean artists from the first millennium BCE to the 16th century.
Featuring more than 50 works, including major loans and new acquisitions, this cross-historical exhibition offers new insights into the emergence of abstract imagery. The constructive nature of weavings, arising from the grid formed by the vertical and horizontal elements of the loom, prompted the formal investigation of geometric designs that emphasize the integral relationship between structure and design in the textiles. Each of the four modern artists featured developed innovative approaches to an ancient medium through deep study of Andean techniques. Shown together, these ancient and modern weavings reposition the place of textiles in global art history.
Sheila Hicks (American, born 1934). “Linen Lean-To" Tapestry Bas-Relief, designed 1967–68; executed 1985. Linen, 59 1/8 x 82 3/4 x 6 in. (150.2 x 210.2 x 15.2 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Purchase. Anonymous Gift, 1986. (1986.7) © Atelier Sheila Hicks.
EVENT
The Threads of Architecture
with Sheila Hicks and Frida Escobedo
Sheila Hicks, artist
Frida Escobedo, architect
Joanne Pillsbury, Andrall E. Pearson Curator, The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing, The Met
Moderated by Iria Candela, Estrellita B. Brodsky Curator of Latin American Art, Department of Modern and Contemporary Art, The Met
“The Threads of Architecture,” a conversation between Sheila Hicks and architect Frida Escobedo, will be held on Friday, March 8 in conjunction with Weaving Abstraction and in celebration of International Women’s Day. Hicks and Escobedo will join Met curators Joanne Pillsbury and Iria Candela to discuss their shared interests, including ancient and modern architecture, textile technologies, and their experiences in Mexico in connection with their respective practices. The talk will take place from 6-7 PM, and is free with museum admission, advanced registration required.
To learn more about Weaving Abstraction in Ancient and Modern Art and The Threads of Architecture at the Met, click here.