Anni Albers

Pioneering textile artist who elevated weaving to a modernist art form and influenced Bauhaus design principles.

Anni Albers (1899–1994) transformed textile art into a medium of avant-garde expression. As a student and later teacher at the Bauhaus, she challenged the gender bias that relegated women to weaving workshops. Her innovative use of synthetic materials and geometric patterns redefined textiles as both functional and artistic.

Albers' 1949 exhibition at MoMA marked the first solo show dedicated to a textile artist. Her book On Weaving (1965) remains a seminal text, exploring the cultural and technical history of the craft. Collaborations with architects like Philip Johnson integrated textiles into modern interiors, blurring the line between art and design.

Fleeing Nazi Germany, Albers brought Bauhaus ideals to the U.S., teaching at Black Mountain College. Her work influenced generations of designers, as noted by MoMA curator Michelle Kuo. By championing 'less is more' aesthetics in textiles, Albers reshaped postwar design paradigms, proving that 'women’s work' could command intellectual and artistic respect.