Caring For Textiles

Textiles enrich our lives. We preserve, repair, restore & display.

Black Textile Artists Matter

By 2 Comments

by Kaitlyn Munro
Graphic displaying a quote by Diedrick Brackens about textile work expanding audiences and highlighting contributions by women, queer people, and Black and brown communities.

Our World is suffering, and each of us suffers along with it. This post is our way of honoring Black Lives Matter and everyone’s involvement in the fight for justice in this country.

We encourage you to follow the links for each artist to learn more about them and explore their work. There are many artists we may have missed or not included—comment below and share your favorites. Explore. Learn. Share…

— Diedrick Brackens —

https://www.diedrickbrackens.com/

  • Artist posing in front of a wall filled with vibrant woven textiles, yarn work, and fiber art tools.
    Photographed by Aubrey Mayer
  • Woven tapestry by Diedrick Brackens depicting silhouetted figures and animals against a purple sky.
    the cup is a cloud
    woven cotton and acrylic yarn and mirrored acrylic 74 x 78 2018

— Bisa Butler —

Bisa Butler Gallery

  • Portrait of quilt artist Bisa Butler with one of her vibrant patterned textile artworks in the background.
  • Colorful quilt portrait of abolitionist Frederick Douglass created with layered patterned fabrics by Bisa Butler.
    The Storm The Whirlwind and the Earthquake
    cotton silk wool and velvet quilted and appliqué 50 x 85 x 2 in | 1270 x 2159 x 51 cm 2020

— Faith Ringgold —

Faith Ringgold gallery

  • Black-and-white portrait of artist and quiltmaker Faith Ringgold, photographed in 1993.
    Faith Ringgold 1993
  • Tar Beach #2

— Nick Cave —

https://nickcaveart.com/Main/Intro.html

  • Artist Nick Cave seated before a large colorful textile and mixed-media installation featuring vivid fibers and sculptural metal forms.
    Facebook profile
  • Sculptural Soundsuit by Nick Cave featuring crocheted textiles, bright colors, and toy-like objects extending outward from the figure.
    Soundsuit Metal, wood, plastic, pigments, cotton and acrylic fibers; 97” x 48” x 42”, 2010

— NedRa Bonds —

https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-37450269

  • Portrait of textile artist Nedra Bonds with one of her quilts, reflecting the storytelling tradition of Black quilt artists.
    Nedra Bonds
  • Quilt titled A Kiss from the Ancestors depicting an elder figure kissing a child, surrounded by musical instruments and patterned fabrics.
    A Kiss from the Ancestors

— Carolyn L. Mazloomi —

Carolyn L. Mazloomi gallery

  • Black-and-white portrait of textile artist and quilt historian Carolyn L. Mazloomi seated before a bold patterned quilt design.
    Carolyn L Mazloomi
  • Black-and-white quilt depicting two women and children framed by bold geometric patterns.
    Wrapped in Love Fiber; 70” x 60”, 2016

— Paul Rucker —

http://archive.paulrucker.com/

  • Black-and-white portrait of artist and musician Paul Rucker playing the cello.
    Paul Rucker
  • Gallery display of multiple Paul Rucker Klan robes made from patterned textiles with tall pointed hoods.
    Storm in the Time of Shelter ICA Richmond VA

— Erin LeAnn Works —

https://www.erinleannworks.com/the-artist-erin

  • Black textile artist, Erin LeAnn, seated in a chair in front of a vibrant blue textile artwork with gold leaves and layered fabric designs.
    Erin LeAnn Works
  • Colorful quilted textile artwork showing a reclining figure made from layered patterned fabrics against a deep blue background.
    Imperishable Stars Acrylic and fabric on canvas with stars, 2019

— Ruth Miller —

http://www.ruthmillerembroidery.com/

  • Textile artist Ruth Miller working on a large quilt design at a studio table.
    Ruth Miller
  • Quilt artwork depicting a woman braiding a seated man’s hair in a domestic interior.
    Blue Peace Hand-embroidered wool on fabric; 38” x 25”, undated

— Zipporah Camille Thompson —

https://www.zipporahcamille.com/

  • Artist seated at a loom weaving thread into fabric inside a bright home studio.
    Photograph by Patrick Heagney
  • Mixed-media textile wall sculpture made from fabric, fringe, and geometric forms arranged in a layered composition.
    Yemoja Monsoon Milk

— Jamele Wright Sr. —

Jamele Wright Sr. gallery

  • Artist standing between two large textile artworks composed of layered, brightly patterned fabrics mounted on studio walls.
    Photo by TK Smith
  • Contemporary textile artwork composed of overlapping fabric pieces, stitched details, and bright patterned textiles arranged in a sculptural wall form.
    A work from In Transit The Return Home at September Gray Fine Art Gallery in Buckhead Courtesy of the gallery

— Joyce J. Scott —

https://americanart.si.edu/artist/joyce-scott-7088

  • Portrait of artist Joyce J. Scott in front of one of her colorful textile artworks.
    Photography by David Colwill
  • Sculptural textile artwork covered in dense multicolored beads and embellishments draped over a display pedestal.
    Plastic and glass beads yarn and knotted fabric 30 x 45 25 2016 2017

Photo Sources: 

1) and 2) https://www.diedrickbrackens.com/

3) https://westchestermagazine.com/things-to-do/arts-culture/bisa-butler-portraits-katonah-museum/

5) and 6) https://www.faithringgold.com/

7) https://www.facebook.com/nickcaveartist/

8) https://collections.artsmia.org/art/111576/soundsuit-nick-cave

9) and 10)  https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-37450269

11) https://carolynlmazloomi.com/

12) https://www.crafthouston.org/exhibition/storyline/

13) and 14)http://archive.paulrucker.com/

15) and 16)   https://www.facebook.com/erinleannworks/

17) https://www.picayuneitem.com/2017/02/local-artist-received-mac-funding-applications-open-soon/

18) http://www.ruthmillerembroidery.com/

19) https://www.atlantamagazine.com/homeandgarden/zipporah-camille-thompson-uses-textiles-to-create-cosmic-connections/

20) https://www.artsatl.org/review-zipporah-camille-thompson-and-mary-stuart-hall-explore-memory-and-identity-at-whitespace/

21) and 22) https://www.artsatl.org/qa-abstraction-is-where-beauty-meets-conflict-says-artist-jamele-wright-sr/

23) https://americanart.si.edu/artist/joyce-scott-7088

24) https://craftcouncil.org/recognition/joyce-scott

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Copyright © 2026 Caring For Textiles. All rights reserved.
Terms and Conditions