This book is the first in a series that features collections of contemporary fiber art. It shows how the collectible of the 21st century looks in private homes and depicts many wonderful fiber objects in close up. You may buy it online. Click on HOW.

Embroidered drawing by
B. J. Adams
titled Hands Drawing Hands

Crocheted scuplture by
Norma Minkowitz
titled Sandy G

Tapestry woven by
Jon Eric Riis
titled Icarus No. 1

Quilted and stuffed sculpture
by Margaret Cusack
titled Hands

Future Sidebar Gallery Shows

In a few months the HANDS in this first exhibition will be replaced by FEET & SHOES.

Current artist-Friends may contact camille@friendsoffiberart.org to learn how they may submit images of their work in various materials and techniques for consideration for future sidebar gallery display.  First-time exhibitors have priority over past exhibitors.

Contemporary
Fiber Art

The distinguished magazine, Art in America, said "Fiber art could be recognized simply as a division of visual art — not the same thing as Pointillism or Pop Art, but not something less — with it's own particular identity and strengths. — Janet Koplos, 1996

Begining in the 1960s Magdalena Abakanowicz, Olga de Amaral, Jean Lurcat, Ed Rossbach, Lenore Tawney, Claire Zeisler and others began to extend the boundaries of acceptable material for production of fine art. Their one-of-a-kind works were usually constructed of flexible materials using textile techniques. Works called "fiber art" include (but are not limited to) sculptural baskets, quilts made for the wall and the first fiber art, tapestry.

Our Mission

Friends of Fiber Art tells the world that fiber art is the collectible of the 21st century and helps you find it. We facilitate opportunities and programs for the education of potential collectors. Such as:

Present public lectures and symposia such as the annual member-artist presentations at the SOFA Expo in Chicago each November.

Provide a calendar of contemporary fiber art exhibitions in galleries, art centers and museums all over the globe and on the Internet. Click on WHERE for a list of shows.

Support a series of regional exhibitions featuring contemporary fiber art from private and public collections. The catalog for the first show from Midwest collections. Material Difference: Soft Sculpture and Wall Works, may be purchased from Friends. Click HOW

Award grants to support professionally-mounted exhibitions with catalogs of soft sculpture and wall works. Since founding in 1991, Friends of Fiber Art has granted almost a quarter million dollars to such shows. Annual grant deadline is July 1. Download the Guidelines and Application from HOW.

Instruct and inspire connoisseurs about the collectibility of art in fibrous materials through a series of innovative and unique member programs such as:

• Bus trips to private homes of collectors of fiber and other fine art.
• Curator-guided tours of museum shows of fiber art.
• Triennial tours to the most important international survey of the state of contemporary fiber art. Next presented in Poland, May 2010 and 2013.

Click on WHEN for the current Friends programs, on WHY for membership benefits and on HOW to join online.