The use of textiles by artists and designers has long been associated with moments of profound social change and political rupture. From tapestry and embroidery to quilting and tailoring, in the hands of artists, textiles are defined by tension and transformation, resistance and activism. Textiles are a means of time travel and truth-telling.

Textiles galvanise communities. Through wars, pandemics and disasters, textiles have offered a way to mobilise social and cultural groups and build connections. In the late nineteenth century, British artist and designer William Morris sought to counter the mechanisation and mass-production of the Industrial Revolution by weaving tapestries on a manual loom with hand-dyed thread. Today, many artists are experimenting with the materials and techniques of textile design as a ‘slow making’ antidote to the high-speed digital age.

From William Morris to Sonia Delaunay, Radical Textiles celebrates the cutting-edge innovations, enduring traditions and bodies of shared knowledge that have been folded into fabric and cloth over the past 150 years. Showcasing the work of more than 100 artists, designers and activists, this major exhibition draws on AGSA’s international, Australian and First Nations collections of textiles and fashion, augmented by sculpture, painting, photography and the moving image, alongside several new commissions.

Craft is thrilled to invite internationally renowned Australian decorator Simone Haag as the guest curator of Craft’s final main gallery exhibition of 2024. Making her curatorial debut, Haag presents a group exhibition featuring works by more than 30 Australian artists.

The exhibition will delve into the narratives imbued in objects and artworks, celebrating the age-old fascination humans hold with storytelling and lore, and its ability to hold our attention captive. Haag presents a selection of hand-picked unique works from some of the most respected Australian artists and craft practitioners working today, as well as some new faces – many of whom will exhibit at Craft for the first time. With her expert eye for interiors and design, Haag weaves a story of highly collectable works across the mediums of furniture, textiles, ceramics, beading and lighting. The exhibition is guaranteed to be coveted by both seasoned collectors and design enthusiasts alike, offering an exceptional opportunity to add truly unique works to any collection.

Artists

Drew Abrahamson / Nick Aylward / Benjamin Barretto / Scotty Bemelen /Jonathan Ben-Tovim / Emma Davies / Scott Elk / Helen Fuller / Anton Gerner / Georgia Harvey / Clare Hermon / Billy Horn / Locki Humphrey / Trent Jansen / Tammy Kanat / Eugenie Kawabata / Studio Kaytar / Lia Klugman / Camille Laddawan / Lilach Mileikowski / Allison Mueller / Ro Noonan / Caro Pattle / Annie Paxton / Sozou Studio / Jacqueline Stojanović / Jill Symes / Ross Thompson / Kasia Tons / Simone Tops / Leisa Wharington / Belinda Wiltshire