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.

Textile artist Sarah Zapata explores themes such as sexuality, femininity and masculinity using textiles as the medium. Her work pushes the boundaries of textiles as an expressive art. Her artworks include knitting, carpet weaving and other traditional fiber arts carried out in a non-traditional way to bring forth her emotional message.

Artist Alexandra Kehayoglou uses the medium of carpet weaving to draw attention to the effects of man and his pursuit of materialism on the natural environment. Alexandra’s works are three-dimensional and often life-like in their scale. They combine texture and color in a way that engages the senses, but there is more behind these textile art pieces than just beautiful rugs.

The work of artist Jason Seife transforms the art of traditional Oriental carpets into spectacular creations. Seife’s work brings the traditional art of Persia into the modern world. His paintings contain impressive detail and represent carpets in designs and colors that were not traditionally used. These paintings bring traditional Persian carpet weaving to a new medium that must be experienced to understand completely.

Artist Agne Kisonaite uses her art and carpets as a form of social and political commentary on the modern world. Agne is an artist who works in a full range of mediums. She transforms everyday objects into contemporary art with a message. She creates furniture, paintings, sculptures, and handmade rugs.

If one were to describe the works of artist Faig Ahmed, the word most likely to be chosen would be surreal. It is difficult to avoid a comparison between Ahmed’s melting Persian carpets and the works of Salvador Dali. They have the same type of mind-bending perspective that asks us to examine what is real and what is not in our world.

In 1919 the Bauhaus opened its door under the Master of Form, Johannes Itten. The Bauhaus school and workshop was known to mix traditional techniques and industrial methods into the workings of each craft lessons available. Itten worked with Helene Borner, Master of Works, who overseen the craftsmanship details of the workshop and was the only female to work at the Bauhaus from the day it opened to the day it closed its doors. Included in leadership was George Muche, Head of Workshop (1921-1927), who focused more on the industrial techniques, all while keeping inventory pumping and increasing profits coming into the workshops.