Modern textile art has established itself as one of the strongest trends in contemporary art. Due to its connection with ancestral practices and its expansion into conceptual and sculptural languages, this discipline has found fertile ground in Latin America for the development of innovative and deeply symbolic proposals. In this landscape, artist Olga de Amaral occupies a central place, not only for her undeniable technical mastery, but also for having elevated textile art to the international stage and pioneering its transformation into fine art, beyond the realm of craftsmanship.
Talking about textile art involves understanding a universe of materials, processes, discourses and sensibilities. It is not just about decorative tapestries or utilitarian textiles; contemporary textile art is an exploration of visual language through fibre. Textile artists from around the world have contributed to expanding its possibilities, breaking down the boundaries between art, craft and design.
Leading exponent of textile art: Olga de Amaral
Olga de Amaral (Bogotá, 1932) is undoubtedly one of the most influential artists in the history of Latin American textile art. Since the 1960s, her work has been recognised for its ability to transcend the traditional function of weaving and project it into spatial, spiritual and symbolic dimensions. Using materials such as linen, wool, cotton, plaster and gold leaf, Amaral has created pieces that straddle the boundaries between painting, sculpture, ancestral craftsmanship and architecture.
Her works, often referred to as sculptural tapestries or abstract textiles, evoke pre-Columbian landscapes, rituals and structures. The artist has drawn inspiration from colonial art, indigenous traditions, colonial architecture and natural textures, managing to construct a language deeply rooted in Latin America, but with universal resonance.
Olga de Amaral’s significance in modern textile art is not limited to the aesthetic quality of her works. Her influence has been decisive in legitimising textile art as an autonomous artistic discipline, especially in Colombia and Latin America. Her participation in major international events, such as the São Paulo Biennial, the Lodz Tapestry Triennial (Poland) and exhibitions at institutions such as MoMA and the Museum of Modern Art in Bogotá, have consolidated her position as a global reference. In addition, her outstanding retrospective exhibition at the Cartier Foundation in 2024 was transferred to Miami in 2025.
Contemporary and Latin American textile art: a growing practice
Beyond Olga de Amaral, the Latin American textile art scene is broad and diverse. In countries such as Chile, Mexico, Argentina, and Peru, numerous artists have revisited textile techniques to explore themes such as memory, identity, nature, and the body. Contemporary textile art thus becomes a fertile field for the intersection of traditional knowledge and contemporary perspectives.
These practices consolidate Latin American textile art as a critical, sensitive voice that is deeply connected to the territory. It is no coincidence that many of these proposals are led by women artists, who find in fibres and weaves a way to reclaim feminine, collective and ancestral knowledge that has historically been relegated from the art canon.
Textile art galleries: a new space for appreciation
The growing interest in contemporary textile art has led many art galleries to incorporate exhibitions focused on this discipline into their programming. The textile art gallery has gained strength as a mediator between artists and an audience eager to explore new forms of expression. These types of spaces have become fundamental platforms for raising the profile of emerging and established textile artists.
Furthermore, collecting modern textile art has gained ground in recent years, thanks to the recognition of its aesthetic and conceptual value. Collectors and curators have begun to consider these works not only for their formal beauty, but also for their ability to tell complex stories, connect with the local community, and expand the language of contemporary art.
Colombian textile art: tradition and modernity
Colombia has been a particularly fertile ground for the development of textile art. In addition to Olga de Amaral, other notable artists include Alejandra Aristizábal, who takes a more contemporary approach to create textile works with profound meaning.
This dialogue between tradition and contemporaneity reinforces the potential of textile art as a deeply relevant practice for our time. Sustainability, cultural diversity, the decolonisation of knowledge and the revaluation of manual labour are some of the themes that run through the works of contemporary textile artists.
