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.
Royal palaces and residences all around the world are always the subject of envy for their beautiful decor, art, and specifically, rugs and carpets. Royal palace rugs and carpets are dignified, majestic, and breathtaking. Rooted in centuries of history and nobility, royal palaces are known for classical and opulent design themes. This includes heavy, luxurious curtains and drapery, gold gilded furniture and wall adornments, stately fine art, and sumptuous, palatial rugs. One can see both medallion and all over designs in these rugs, depending on the rest of the decor in the room.
Having worked with designers for over twenty years, I can really appreciate what makes Amy Lau so special and distinctive. I wanted to start our “Designer Spotlight” with Amy because of her wonderful sensitivity to color and its role within the design process.
The impression of simplicity that she achieves in putting a room together is remarkable. Beneath the surface there is so much going on in terms of the interplay of color and form, but you only come to realize this gradually and subtly as you experience the spaces she designs. Amy is also wonderful to work with. She is so warm and energetic, and this makes me enjoy what she does even more.
Interior designer Philip La Bossiere asserts, “I am not a beige guy in any sense of the word” in reference to both his colorful interiors and his exuberant personality. He has spent the past twenty-plus years cultivating his reputation as a sincere, hands-on decorator with timeless and unexpected design schemes. Always excited by antique and Continental furniture, either at auction or abroad, La Bossiere prefers strong contrasts, rich color schemes, and a dash of the exotic. He was educated at Parsons School of Design, and in apprenticeship to renowned designer David Barrett, where he learned to execute designs that are timeless without ever feeling conservative.
The City of Doha, Qatar, is a modern and beautiful city rising from the desert sands surrounding the Persian Gulf. It is also home to one of the biggest and most important antique Persian rug and Oriental carpet collections in the world. The collection of the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha Qatar is housed in a beautifully designed, modern building with breathtaking architecture.
The Victoria and Albert Museum in London stands as a premier destination for art and design, boasting one of the world’s most extensive historical carpet collections. Among its treasures are some of the oldest and most exquisite rugs, with a significant focus on its 1,170 carpets from the Middle East and North Africa. This remarkable collection draws visitors from across the globe, offering a rare glimpse into diverse cultural heritages.
If you are planning a trip to Istanbul Turkey and you love antique Oriental carpets, the Topkapi Palace Museum has a collection that you do not want to miss. A visit to the collection of antique rugs at Topkapi Palace Museum is like stepping back in time. It has one of the most extensive collections of textiles and carpets in the world. The museum houses some of the finest examples of Ottoman Empire textile art dating from the second half of the fifteenth century to the early 20th century.