Art statement
Making a tapestry is my passion. Given only two elements; the warp and the weft, I am fascinated by all the design possibilities. I work with color, design, line, and, of course, texture. I take inspiration from the natural world to create a dynamic response with organic materials.
Bio
Born in San Francisco, Alex Friedman has been weaving tapestries for over 40 years. She began her career by working in a NYC workshop on a set of shaped tapestries for the then new Pan Am 747 jumbo jets. Since then, she has created numerous tapestries including commissions for corporate, liturgical, and private clients. Her award-winning art, known for the dynamic colors and rippled surface design have been exhibited internationally. She maintains a studio at the ICB in the Sausalito, California and welcomes inquiries.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2019
“The Woven Line,” Art Works Downtown, San Rafael, CA
2018
‘Woolworks’ Throckmorton Theater, Mill Valley, CA
2017
‘Woven Treasure,’ 201 California St. San Francisco, CA
2012
‘Over, Under,’ The Galleria, The Tamalpais, Greenbrae, CA
2012
‘Surface Tension,’ Richioli Vineyards, Healdsburg, CA
2002
‘Travelling Ravelling,’ Lewis Elton Gallery, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, England
1998
The Weaver’s Art,’ Fleming Gallery, TASIS, Thorpe, Surrey, England (Artist in residence)
SELECTED GROUP SHOWS
2022
Yarn/Rope/String, New Bedford Art Museum, New Bedford, MA, Juried
2021
‘More Impact: Climate Change,’ San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles, San Jose, CA
‘Recycling Show,’ Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Sebastopol, CA
‘Materials Hard + Soft,’ Patterson-Appleton Arts Center, Denton, TX
2019
‘IMPACT Climate Change,’ Belmont Art Gallery, Belmont, MA,
Mills Building, San Francisco, CA
Inaugural International Tapestry Exhibit, Canadian Tapestry and Textile Centre, Oakville, Ont. Canada
‘Points of Departure,’ Fiber Dimensions, Museum of Northern California Art, Chico, CA
2018
‘Fabrications,’ Fiber Dimensions, Pence Gallery, Davis, CA
‘From Lausanne to Beijing, 10th International Fiber Art Symposium,’ Tsinghua University Art Museum, Beijing, China
‘International Embroidery and Contemporary Life Exhibit,’ Chaozhou Museum, Chauzhou, Guangdong Province, China (invited)
2017
“Embedded Pattern,” Three person show, San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles, San Jose, CA
2016
“Elements: Earth, Air, Water, Fire,” International show comprised of 10 English, 10 Australian and 10 US artists ( 2016-18 Traveled to five venues in three countries)
“Beyond the Surface” Surface Design Association, San Jose Museum of Quilts &Textiles, San Jose, CA
2015
“Contemporary International Tapestry” Hunterdon Museum, Clinton, NJ (invitational)
US Embassy, Dili, Timor Leste, ‘Art in Embassies Program,’ (Long term loan)
2014
“The Art is the Cloth” New Hampshire Institute of Art, Concord, NH (invitational)
Philadelphia and Deerfield Academy (3 venues)
2013
‘Materials: Hard & Soft,’ Denton Art Center, Denton, TX
Intersections 6: Fiber Dimensions and Beyond, Herbst Hall, SF Sponsored by Fiber Dimensions. Juried by Lisah Horner
2012
American Tapestry Biennial 9, Dairy Barn, Athens OH, and Ft Wayne Museum, Ft Wayne, IN, Juried by Lee Talbot
2011
‘Fantastic Fibers,’ Yeiser Art Center, Paducah, KY (international Juried show)
Art of the Line,’ Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Sebastopol, CA
2010
‘Tapestry Weavers West Celebrates 25 Years,’ Richmond Art Center, Richmond, CA (Juried)
2009
‘Art of Fine Craft’ National Juried exhibition, Elder Gallery, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Lincoln, NE
2008
American Tapestry Biennial 7, international show juried by Susan Warner Keene, Scarfone/Hartley Gallery, Tampa, FL, and Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft, Louisville, KY
‘Land,’ Textiles Workshop, Australia National Uni. Canberra, Australia
2007
‘CraftForms 2007,’ Wayne Art Center, Philadelphia, PA. National craft show (juried by Mark Leach of the Mint Museum of Design + Craft, Charlotte, NC)
2006
‘Textile Arts Today’ Synopsis Inc. Mountain View, California (invitation)
“Tapestries on the Edge.” Nordic Heritage Museum, Seattle, WA (Juried)
2004
“Small Format Frontiers” Small Format show, Museum of Outdoor Arts, Denver, CO
2000
Orleans Open Exhibition 2000, Orleans House, Twickenham, Surrey UK
1998
“The Weaver’s Art,” Fleming Gallery, TASIS, Thorpe, Surrey, England (Artist in residence) Solo show
1997
TWINE 2, Emporium Gallery, Dover, NH (group show)
1996
First American Tapestry Alliance Biennial (juried) Traveling to 4 venues
‘Perspectives,’ Showcase exhibit, Pump House Gallery, Hartford, CT (Invitational 2 person show)
1995
CRAFTS ’95, Silvermine Gallery, New Canaan, CT (national Juried show)
“A Taste of Tapestry,” University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA (Invitational 4 artists)
1993
“White Nights,” Marble Palace, St Petersburg, Russia (with Textile Design Symposium)
‘Fiber Celebrated ‘93,’ Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas, NV (juried)
1992
‘ITNET 2’ Textile Museum, Washington, D.C. (juried)
Connecticut Commission on the Arts Exhibit in the Governor’s Office, Capitol Bldg., Hartford,
1991
New England Foundation for the Arts Fellowship Show, Boston Center for the Arts, Boston, MA
1990
‘American Tapestry Today,’ Syntex Gallery, Palo Alto, CA (juried)
SELECTED LECTURES
2018
“Journey along the Warp,“ Textile Arts Council, DeYoung Museum, San Francisco, CA May 19.
2017
“Rhythm & Hues: A Closer Look at Woven Patterns and Elements,” San Jose
Museum of Quilts and Textiles, March 2017
