In the past, creating a carpet was a painstaking and exceedingly slow process. Some of the masterpieces that we have today took teams of weavers years to create. They have a quality that allows them to last for centuries if they are properly taken care of and preserved. Now, you can find thousands of mass-produced carpets at exceptionally cheap prices. However, something is missing. A hand-knotted rug was carefully crafted by the artisan. They poured their heart and soul into its creation. This is something that a machine made carpet can never reproduce, and the message that We Make Carpets wants to say to the world.

The ocean landscapes of environmental activist and textile artist Vanessa Barragao use a variety of different fiber art techniques to bring attention to the desperate need to save our ocean resources. Barragao’s fiber sculptures bring the viewer up close and allow them to interact with an underwater world of beauty that is quickly disappearing due to natural and man-made forces. Vanessa’s textile sculptures are three-dimensional and life-sized, creating an immersive experience.

Babak Kazemi uses the medium of photography to recount ancient tales that inspire and that are thought-provoking. Using Persian carpets as the backdrop, Persian artist Babak Kazemi recounts the tragic and ancient tale of Shirin and Farhad through photographs. Using beautiful Persian carpets to set the scene, Kazemi pays homage to the ancient traditions but gives them a contemporary twist.

The art of paper quilling is believed to have begun in the 15th century. It was created by French and Italian nuns to decorate special religious objects. Lisa Nilsson is a contemporary artist who takes this art form to new levels, creating magnificent renditions of Persian carpets using only compact coils of Japanese mulberry paper.

Artist Farid Rasulov uses his art to pay homage to the traditions and history of his Azerbaijan home. His works use traditional elements in unusual ways to express his sense of connection to his homeland and its people. Carpets are a traditional art form in Azerbaijan, and Rasulov feels that they are a medium that expresses the heart and soul of his people.