I didn’t grow up knowing that “fiber art” was even a thing.
I knew yarn, fabric, threads. I knew how they felt in my hands. I knew the rhythm of crochet, taught by women who made things to be useful. But I didn’t yet know that those same materials could carry meaning — or that I could one day call them my medium.
So… what is fiber art?
Fiber art is a form of visual art that uses textiles or fiber-based materials as the main medium — things like yarn, rope, thread, or fabric. It includes techniques such as weaving, macramé, crochet, and embroidery.
What makes fiber art unique is not that it’s separate from craft, but that it evolved out of it. These techniques were originally developed for functional use — to make clothing, repair fishing nets, decorate homes. And they’re still used that way today.
But over time, artists began using the same methods to create objects that aren’t about function — but about form, feeling, and idea. Fiber art doesn’t deny its craft roots. It builds on them, and reimagines them into something expressive, often sculptural, and sometimes conceptual.
To me, fiber art is slow and tactile. It can be quiet, emotional, and full of texture.
Isn’t that… old-fashioned?
I hear this a lot.
Many people associate fiber techniques with something outdated: doilies, decorative cross-stitch, old-fashioned lace. And yes — those traditions live inside fiber art. But that’s not all it is.
Contemporary fiber artists are pushing boundaries. They're mixing techniques. Making large-scale installations. Hanging pieces from ceilings. Combining weaving with metal, rope, wood, or stone.
Sometimes people are surprised when they see my work. “This is weaving?”Yes — but maybe not the kind you’re picturing.
*We Will Win: Our Banner in the Sky (after Frederic Edwin Church)” (2020), cotton cord, nylon, paracord, fabric, and ribbons, 84 x 108 x 12 inches, 120-inch bar. Photo by Ian Vecchiotti.
Macramé, Weaving & More (But Make It Now)
The two techniques I return to most are macramé and weaving — though I often blend them into what’s called macraweaving.
- Macramé uses knots. It’s rhythmic, sculptural, and deeply meditative. Many know it from 70s plant hangers, but it can be powerful, minimal, and architectural too.
- Weaving involves threads crossing over and under on a loom. Some looms are the size of your lap, others take up entire rooms. Weaving feels like building with softness.
Then there’s embroidery, felting, crochet… all beautiful techniques. And more and more artists are mixing them in bold, unexpected ways. There are no rules anymore — just threads and stories.
Fiber Artists to Keep an Eye On
If you're curious about how fiber art is evolving, here are a few contemporary artists who are rethinking traditional techniques in bold, inspiring ways:
- Sheila Hicks – Known for her monumental installations and sculptural use of color and thread.
- Magdalena Abakanowicz – A pioneer in textile sculpture, blending form and emotion.
- Erin M. Riley – Tapestries with raw, personal narratives that challenge perceptions.
- Judith Scott – Created wrapped, cocoon-like sculptures full of mystery and personal symbolism.
- Tanya Aguiñiga – A Mexican-American artist whose work combines activism, fiber, and community storytelling.
- Liza Lou – Works with thousands of glass beads in large-scale, meditative installations.
- Alexandra Kehayoglou – Creates woven landscapes using wool, rooted in ecological awareness.
These artists use fiber not just to decorate, but to speak — about memory, politics, belonging, bodies, and space. Each of them proves that fiber art is not only relevant, but radical in its own soft way.
You can also explore more fiber art inspiration on my Pinterest board: Modern Fiber Art & Artists