aFTER MANY MONTHS OF PLANNING...

After many months of planning and sorting and more planning and a lot of toing and froing between many entrants the final 35 artists have been selected for the International Art Textile Biennale 2023.

167 artists from 25 countries and 270 pieces entered in the Biennale, it was a huge task for the selectors to choose the final 35 that will be shown.

This Biennale has attracted a lot of galleries for the 2023/24 exhibition season, and I am so thrilled that these impressive works will get to travel to
East Gippsland Art Gallery, Bairnsdale Vic             20 January – 18 March 2023
Emu Park Art Gallery, Emu Park, Queensland       15 April – 10 June 2023
Toowoomba Regional Gallery, Queensland           8 July – 26 August 2023
Kyogle Gallery, Kyogle, New South Wales             23 September – 11 November 2023
Moonah Art Centre, Moonah, Tasmania                9 December 2023- 20 January 2024
Design Centre Sydney, Darlinghurst, NSW            2 February – 22 March 2024
Geelong Art Space, Geelong, Victoria                     5 April – 18 May 2024

Fibre Arts Australia is highlighting the contemporary practice within Art Textiles as an art form. It has long been a dream of mine to highlight art textiles and in 2021 the dream materialised.

Art Textiles is a term derived to express emotions and feelings using a media that has been used since the dawn of time. With many working with cloth and fibre, the subtle marks of stitch show an extraordinary diversity of methods that are applied by 35 artists from 9 countries including Australia. Traditional and non-traditional techniques being utilised in a contemporary practice, the repeated touch in these works is very gratifying.

Viewers will be captivated and engaged by the rhythm of the maker and excellence that is exhibited. The selected works pushes previously held notions of textile/fibre, opening a dialogue about what it is to be a textile artist that makes an expression and commentary on content and concept in the 21st Century.

The finalists show a well resolved concept combined with exploratory and expert use of their chosen material. From intimate reflections to huge environmental issues, the works vary in concepts, techniques, material, and presentation.

From the work of one’s hands, these works are from artists who present themselves in varied ways as Masters in a technique that is so inherent within their art practice.
There is a common thread of innovation, experimentation beside professional practice with a focus on contemporary as never before.

Fibre Arts Australia is committed to developing this significant award with it original vision and intentions so that Art Textile practitioners continue to expand, grow and inspire.
Glenys Mann