Private to Public: The Role of Architects in the Emergence of Textile and Fibre Art in Australia

In the late 1960s architects began commissioning Australian textile and fibre artists to create custom works for new buildings. These commissions, by mostly female artists, assisted in the transformation of textile and fibre in Australia from amateur, home, craft into art media. The commissioning of textile and fibre works also expanded the concept of public art in Australia, giving voice to those often overlooked in traditional forms of public art. While the initial commissions were smaller, by the mid-1970s monumental woven works were being created for prestigious locations such as the University of New South Wales, the Sydney Opera House, and the Queensland State Executive Building. By choosing textiles and fibre, the architects were not only promoting the work of Australian female artists, they also harnessed the sensual and tactile possibilities of the media. The works and materials both accentuated and challenged the architecture, bringing natural warmth, malleability, strength, texture, and light to the spaces. More than merely decorative, the pieces could work in harmony with or be juxtaposed against the materials of the buildings. In recognising the abundant possibilities of the media, architects both redefined public art and laid the groundwork for textile and fibre art in Australia today.