WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — On Saturday, Feb. 8 at 2 pm, the Clark Art Institute presents "Women of the French Tapestry Revival: Artists, Dealers, Weavers," a talk by Kay Wells (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee). 

 

This free lecture is given in conjunction with the Clark's exhibition "Wall Power! Modern French Tapestry from the Mobilier national, Paris," and takes place in the Clark's Manton Research Center auditorium.

 

According to a press release: 

 

French tapestry weaving was traditionally an elite luxury craft practiced by men, who passed prestigious weaving positions down from father to son for generations. But as modernists began to revive French tapestry weaving in the twentieth century, women took on increasingly prominent roles in the field as artists, dealers, and weavers. This talk by Kay Wells explores how women worked in these and other roles to produce modern French tapestries, how they carved out new careers in this dramatically changing field, and how they transformed the look and feel of modern art.

 

Kay Wells serves as Director of Graduate Studies and Associate Professor of American Art and Architecture at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and is the author of "Weaving Modernism: Postwar Tapestry between Paris and New York" (Yale University Press, 2019).

 

Drawn from the celebrated collection of the Mobilier national from the 1940s to the present day, "Wall Power! Modern French Tapestry from the Mobilier national," Paris explores the resurgence of the ancient French tradition of tapestry-making, including works by Henri Matisse, Sonia Delaunay, and Kiki Smith.

 

"Wall Power! Modern French Tapestry from the Mobilier national, Paris" is organized by the Clark Art Institute and curated by Kathleen Morris, Sylvia and Leonard Marx Director of Collections and Exhibitions and curator of decorative arts.

 

Support for this exhibition is provided by George W. Ahl III, the Coby Foundation, and Robert D. Kraus. The exhibition catalogue is made possible by Denise Littlefield Sobel.