Kirsten Hassenfeld, (American, born 1971) Millefleur (detail), 2019, salvaged textiles with mixed media, 78 inches diameter, (c) Kirsten Hassenfeld
Kirsten Hassenfeld, (American, born 1971) Millefleur (detail), 2019, salvaged textiles with mixed media, 78 inches diameter, (c) Kirsten Hassenfeld
Kirsten Hassenfeld, (American, born 1971), Millefleur (detail), 2019.
Salvaged textiles with mixed media. 78 inches diameter. (c) Kirsten Hassenfeld
Kirsten Hassenfeld, (American, born 1971) Millefleur, 2019, salvaged textiles with mixed media, 78 inches diameter, (c) Kirsten Hassenfeld
Kirsten Hassenfeld (American, born 1971), Millefleur, 2019.
Salvaged textiles with mixed media. 78 inches diameter. (c) Kirsten Hassenfeld
Windy Chien (American, born 1967), Circuit Board, 2021. Rope, vintage 24k gold Japanese thread, synthetic Chainette yarn, 58 x 96 x 2.5 in. © Windy Chien.
Windy Chien (American, born 1967), Circuit Board, 2021.
Rope, vintage 24k gold Japanese thread, synthetic Chainette yarn, 58 x 96 x 2.5 in. © Windy Chien.
Windy Chien (American, born 1967), Circuit Board, 2021. Rope, vintage 24k gold Japanese thread, synthetic Chainette yarn, 58 x 96 x 2.5 in. © Windy Chien.
Windy Chien (American, born 1967), Circuit Board (detail), 2021.
Rope, vintage 24k gold Japanese thread, synthetic Chainette yarn, 58 x 96 x 2.5 in. © Windy Chien.
Liz Robb (American, born 1985), Passage II, 2021. Cotton, grout, 84 x 45 x 19 in. © Liz Robb.
Liz Robb (American, born 1985), Passage II, 2021.
Cotton, grout, 84 x 45 x 19 in. © Liz Robb.
Lisa Solomon (American, born 1973), Senninbari [1000 stitch knot belt] (detail), 2016. Hand-dyed & tied cotton rope, 122 x 299 x 4 in. Courtesy of Walter Maciel Gallery, Los Angeles, CA. © Lisa Solomon.
Lisa Solomon (American, born 1973), Senninbari [1000 stitch knot belt] (detail), 2016.
Hand-dyed & tied cotton rope, 122 x 299 x 4 in. Courtesy of Walter Maciel Gallery, Los Angeles, CA. © Lisa Solomon.
Kira Dominguez Hultgren (American, born 1980), At Least Both Your Parents are Brown, 2020. Brown yarn, silk, leather, fleece, felt, belts, fabric, wood, 82 x 77 x 3 in. Courtesy of Eleanor Harwood Gallery, San Francisco, CA. © Kira Dominguez Hultgren.
Kira Dominguez Hultgren (American, born 1980), At Least Both Your Parents are Brown, 2020.
Brown yarn, silk, leather, fleece, felt, belts, fabric, wood, 82 x 77 x 3 in. Courtesy of Eleanor Harwood Gallery, San Francisco, CA. © Kira Dominguez Hultgren.
Jacqueline Surdell (American, born 1993), Orange 2, 2018. Braided cotton cord, steel curl bar. 104 x 59 x 15 in. Courtesy of Patricia Sweetow Gallery, San Francisco, CA. © Jacqueline Surdell.
Jacqueline Surdell (American, born 1993), Orange 2, 2018.
Braided cotton cord, steel curl bar. 104 x 59 x 15 in. Courtesy of Patricia Sweetow Gallery, San Francisco, CA. © Jacqueline Surdell.
Dana Hemenway (American, born 1982), Untitled (extension cords – four blue), 2021. Extension cords, light bulbs, wood, mixed media, 81 x 24 x 14 in. Courtesy of Eleanor Harwood Gallery, San Francisco, CA. © Dana Hemenway.
Dana Hemenway (American, born 1982), Untitled (extension cords – four blue), 2021.
Extension cords, light bulbs, wood, mixed media, 81 x 24 x 14 in. Courtesy of Eleanor Harwood Gallery, San Francisco, CA. © Dana Hemenway.

A Beautiful Mess: Weavers & Knotters of the Vanguard

February 25 - June 25, 2023

From micro artworks the size of your hand to mammoth room-sized installations, the national roster of women artists in A Beautiful Mess push the boundaries of their textile-based medium. Using rope, yarn, clay and wire, this group of conceptual artists knot and twist their media into sculptures that range from minimal and hyper-organized to utter pandemonium. They explore personal and political ideals — order and chaos to the extreme — and freely break the rules to create their beautiful artworks. Serious about making a strong cultural and intellectual impact, this group deftly weaves their message into works that demonstrate extraordinary technical skill.

Artists include: Windy Chien, Kira Dominguez Hultgren, Kirsten Hassenfeld, Dana Hemenway, dani lopez, Hannah Perrine Mode, Liz Robb, Katrina Sánchez Standfield, Meghan Shimek, Lisa Solomon, and Jacqueline Surdell.

A Beautiful Mess: Weavers & Knotters of the Vanguard was organized by Bedford Gallery at the Lesher Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek, CA.
Bedford Gallery

This exhibition is made possible, in part, with generous support from:

Platinum Sponsors
Shari and John Hicks

Silver Sponsors
Isabel Becker
Gerald and Sondra Biller
Keith Monda and Veronica Brady

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Installation view of "A Beautiful Mess: Weavers & Knotters of the Vanguard" at Sarasota Art Museum
Installation view of Hannah Perrine Mode, Rope Team, 2018-2020 at Sarasota Art Museum.
Installation view of "A Beautiful Mess: Weavers & Knotters of the Vanguard" at Sarasota Art Museum
Installation view of A Beautiful Mess: Weavers & Knotters of the Vanguard at Sarasota Art Museum
Installation view of "A Beautiful Mess: Weavers & Knotters of the Vanguard" at Sarasota Art Museum
Installation view of A Beautiful Mess: Weavers & Knotters of the Vanguard at Sarasota Art Museum
Installation view of "A Beautiful Mess: Weavers & Knotters of the Vanguard" at Sarasota Art Museum
Installation view of A Beautiful Mess: Weavers & Knotters of the Vanguard at Sarasota Art Museum

Programs

Woman at a pool club posing with two men playing pool in the background

Sarasota Art Museum Announces its 2026-2027 Season Exhibition Schedule

Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College of Art and Design (SAM) announces its 2026-2027 season, featuring a lineup of seven exhibitions including works by some of the most beloved and influential photographers of the 20th-century, award-winning glass artists, a father and son artistic lineage, multiple Ringling College of Art and Design talents and more.