INTRODUCTION:
One of the earliest types of woven textile crafts is tapestry art, which is generally produced on a vertical loom. Contrary to the case with cloth weaving, where both the warp and the threads may remain visible after the item is finished, it is distinguished by a weaving technique in which all of the warp threads are hidden in the finished work. As a visual art that is frequently produced on a big scale, the tapestry is closely related to painting as a means of expression.
There doesn’t seem to be much use in disputing tapestry’s artistic qualities given that some of the best examples were created by master painters.
However, tapestry art was frequently disregarded because many people believed it to be little more than home decor or a cheap imitation of paintings. As a result, art historians for a very, very long time ignored one of the priciest, most taxing trades.
History
Since ancient times, people have used tapestries, and some accounts of tapestry art date as far back as the Hellenistic period.
However, it wasn’t until the first wave of artistic output took place in Germany and Switzerland in the early 14th century AD that its true aesthetic potential was realized. The art slowly spread to France and the Netherlands over time, and it’s fascinating to note that the fundamental instruments for weaving tapestries have largely stayed the same over time, continuing to be used today.
Numerous tapestries were burned during the French Revolution to salvage the gold thread that was frequently woven into them, which had a significant negative impact on the development of tapestry art. The craft of tapestry-making was revived in the 19th century by William Morris, who is now regarded as one of the key pattern painters. Morris & Co. produced outstanding series for domestic and ecclesiastical usage, with figures that were nearly entirely based on drawings created by Edward Burne-Jones.
Modern French painters, primarily led by Jean Lurcat, created new tapestry art forms in the first half of the 20th century.
Now let’s get to know about some of the present-day tapestry artists who with their creative and distinctive styles are making some beautiful artwork.
Tapestry art by Peter Blake :
The classic album jacket for the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band was co-designed by Peter Blake, also referred to as the Godfather of British Pop Art.
Despite not using tapestry as his major medium, the artist nonetheless demonstrated his mastery of this age-old technique; the conceptual underpinnings of his tapestries are very similar to those of his other works. They are the outcome of his interest in American pop culture and advertisements.
Tapestry art by Gavin Turk :
One of the most intriguing of all the Young British Artists is the British artist Gavin Turk.
In his body of work, Turk addresses questions of authenticity and identity and engages in discussions of modernism and the avant-garde. It is immediately clear from reading that that is not your typical tapestry material.
Grayson Perry and his Tapestry art :
An English artist known for his ceramic vases and tapestries with distinctive stylistic elements is named Grayson Perry. Perry frequently uses classical ornamentation and vivid colors in his paintings, but the topic of his creations is frequently unpleasant.
The Vanity of Small Differences, his most well-known tapestry series to date, has a lot to say about politics and how class influences how we dress and furnish our homes.
Kara Walker :
The works of Kara Walker, an African American painter, silhouette artist, printmaker, installation artist, and filmmaker, are among the most audacious ones the modern art world has to offer.
She is regarded as a master of collage and is best recognized for her black-and-white silhouette paintings that explore themes of African American racial identity, frequently centering on scenes of enslavement, conflict, or violence.
Erin M. Riley :
Erin M. Riley is a tapestry artist from Brooklyn who uses hand-woven, dyed wool tapestries to their fullest potential in her exploration of women and female concerns.
She is the only artist on this little list who concentrates solely on tapestry art.
Riley uses a very conventional style, but her topics are quite modern—and frequently quite depressing. Erin M. Riley primarily creates sensual images of contemporary women, while she occasionally includes images of heroin kits, automobile crashes, and other such things.
Beatriz Milhaze and her Tapestry art :
Brazilian author and artist Beatriz Milhazes are one of the most well-known current writers in her country. She is most recognized for her vibrant abstract paintings that expertly mix images from Brazilian culture with allusions to western modernist painting styles.
Milhazes occasionally makes tapestries, even though it is not her primary form of artistic expression, particularly in recent years.
