The Revival of Textile Art
Textile art has always been a constant thread in our lives, blending function with beauty. Read on to explore its modern revival.
Marin Fadiloglulari
Monday 18 August, 2025
Textile art has long been the quiet yet determined beating heart of our homes, weaving together both function and beauty for centuries. From embroidered pieces to tapestries and handcrafted carpets, we’ve seen how textile artworks tell stories, commemorate big events and even insulate buildings.
Once purely functional, textiles are reclaiming their much-deserved spotlight as powerful expressions of artistry, heritage, and identity. Read on to discover the full story.
A Background Story on Textile Art
With its delicate nature, tracking down early examples of textile art can be quite difficult. Even though there are samples going back to ancient Egypt, it’s mainly during the medieval period that we see textile art become prominent, with an emphasis on weaving and embroidery as beautiful and complex techniques.
As time went on, we saw English embroidery dominate popularity in the world of textile art. This referred to the art of precise needlework used for both domestic and religious purposes, in the form of clothing and decoration. Following that, it was tapestry that made a big name for itself in this era, performing several functions from ceremonial to decorative to practical. Tapestries were high status artworks only the wealthy could enjoy, a theme we’ve seen define textile art in this century. This was due to the degree of skill involved in their making. While an individual artist could have easily finished a painting alone, a tapestry relied on the team effort of designers, weavers and painters.
It was the Industrial Revolution that brought transformative changes to the production and perception of textile art. Innovations like the power loom enabled textiles to be mass-produced, reducing reliance on individual craftsmanship and threatening the livelihoods of traditional textile workers. Although this rise of industrialisation shifted textile production toward mass manufacturing, artists and designers pushed back by reviving traditional methods and celebrating the handmade.
In the centuries when tapestries were highly valued across Europe, textiles were the medium of expression and status. So to us, it comes as no surprise that textile art is once again receiving the attention it deserves. It’s vital to preserve and pass on the knowledge of this art form – one that can endure for over a thousand years – and to continue nurturing its growth into the future.
Textile Art von Harten
The Revival of Handcrafted Textiles
Once considered domestic or low art, the revival of textile art is shaping the world of contemporary art and creativity. Contemporary textile artists, no longer tied to the traditional, are using innovative methods to tell powerful stories about identity, culture and history.
Embroidery, an art form traditionally dominated by women, is one example of how textile art has been used as a form of gender expression and feminist activism. Embodying traditionally feminine traits such as patience and carrying a heavy focus on the domestic, embroidery became almost synonymous with a certain dated depiction of womanhood. Despite the lack of appreciation and continuous dismissal for the art, many artists took this very opportunity to reclaim their power and voice by using embroidery to challenge these societal norms and expectations.
Within contemporary art, we’re seeing textiles not only as beautiful, tactile additions to the home, but as politically and emotionally charged mediums that speak to identity, sustainability, and cultural storytelling.
Wolf & Nomad Gallery
One striking example is Willow Stacey’s series titled “Things Men Say”. Exploring everyday sexism that is often taken lightly, Stacey’s project quickly turned into an “act of solidarity”.
Her series have an intimate yet rebellious feel with hand sewn letters onto inherently domestic textiles such as dish cloths and pillowcases.
Textiles as a Sustainable Choice
With growing awareness and concerns about environmental issues worldwide, there has been a renewed interest in incorporating eco-friendly materials or processes in the creation of textile art. From prioritising high-quality materials to ensure longevity, to focusing heavily on upcycling, to borrowing resources from nature – textile art brings about countless ways in which artists can make sustainable choices in their practice.
Hilde Trip’s textile wall art is a striking example. The natural world has evolved to be the central focus of her artistic practice. Natural materials are both her medium of choice, in the form of bark, leaves and seeds for example, and her inspiration, where she aims to capture nature’s enduring beauty. This way, the materials she works with change depending on the season, and their beauty is preserved for years to come as they are transformed into lasting artworks.
Textile Art as Interior Décor
We’ve already covered how textile art served a functional role in interiors, from rugs, to carpets to curtains. However, today’s artists and designers are repositioning it to be the centrepiece – where it was always meant to be. Textile wall art, handwoven tapestries and fibre structures are taking centre stage in interior design, often overshadowing traditional framed art.
This shift reflects a growing appreciation for textile art and represents a broader cultural reckoning within hierarchies in art. One where materials historically associated with domesticity, femininity, and craft are being revalued as vehicles for serious artistic expression.
With textiles traditionally being held in low esteem and considered as ‘just women’s work’, we aim to offer important opportunities to challenge its standing alongside other fine arts.
Naarm Textile Collective
In minimalist or modern interiors, often dominated by neutral tones and sleek design, textile art brings about a rich contrast. A woven wall hanging or layered fabric collage offers both movement and texture that softens the monochromatic palette of a room. In this case, wall textiles or woven artworks can bring balance to sharper interiors, proving that subtlety can, too, be bold.
By embracing the individuality of handmade textiles, seasoned artists and first-time makers alike are reclaiming skills that were once endangered, while reshaping the value of textiles in the world of contemporary art.
Cultural Influences in Textile Art
In modern home decor, there is an increasing recognition of global textile traditions that embody rich histories of craftsmanship, storytelling, and identity.
For example, cultures worldwide have long honoured light as a transformative force, from the Shen, Guang, and Ling of Chinese spiritual philosophy to the Atman, the divine inner self in Hinduism, and the Bodhi in Buddhism, as well as Lux Dei in Christianity.
Pajarito draws extensively from these symbolic heritages in her detailed textile series ‘Anatomia de la luz’ where light is studied as something more than just illumination but rather as a vital essence.
Light is represented by a piercing red and fabric scraps and embroidery are used for texture, merging mysticism and precise craftsmanship.
Another artist whose work embodies the preservation of cultural heritage through contemporary practice, Alejandra Aristizabal, creates fibre art that sustains a deep-rooted tradition. Working with sacred natural fibres, she transforms the Fique plant, a species native to the South American Andean region, into delicate yet striking sculptural assemblages.
She works with indigenous communities within the region who support her in the harvesting and drying processes of this fibre. This intrinsically gives her art a new level of meaning beyond its physical form.
Textile art continues to challenge our understanding of art, urging us to consider the stories, skills, and cultural histories embedded in the fabric of everyday materials.
Naarm Textile Collective
Rather than being treated as an embellishment on the side, textile art is now being celebrated for its cultural significance and artistic depth. Both designers and art collectors are seeking pieces that honour these traditions, often made by local artists or collectives, bringing authenticity into the home.
This revival elevates textile art as a key element of modern interior design while supporting a larger movement toward heritage preservation in the arts.
The Rise of DIY Culture
Another global trend that played a significant role in the revival of textile art has been the rise of DIY culture in art. What was once viewed as domestic work is now being reframed as an empowering and productive activity in a time of digital fatigue. Beyond the growing appreciation of textile art, there has also been a big surge in people wanting to learn these creative practices.
With social media platforms making learning more accessible, more people have been gaining these skills not just out of necessity anymore, but as hobbies and forms of personal expression. From practising mindfulness to personal storytelling, textile art has been at the forefront of DIY culture and people’s introduction to expressing themselves through art.
The resurgence of textile art is more than just a passing trend – it’s a return to craftsmanship, culture and connection. Keep your eyes peeled in our fairs to see how textile traditions are being reimagined today.
Featured image: Beate and Celina von Harten, Tapestry Two Be 2020, woven and embroidered line 117x146cm, Textile Art von Harten
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