Tapestry exhibition by Erin M. Riley

Tapestries from Erin M. Riley Look Back At It

 

 

If you have an interest in contemporary tapestry art you will know the work of American artist Erin M. Riley. She has been weaving for over twenty years and her work is instantly recognisable through her hard-hitting subject matter, colour palette and compositions which are often a collage of numerous images.  Erin’s first solo show in Europe is at Mother’s Tankstation in collaboration with P.P.O.W gallery and I went to see it at the weekend.

Erin’s work has a huge sense of gravitas. Tapestry is one of the slowest forms of textile art and the attention to detail is phenomenal. Text and curves are notoriously difficult to weave and here they appear effortless. The imagery creates a multi-layered narrative from Erin’s life experiences and the colours which Erin hand dyes reinforce the serious nature of the subject matter. Constructed from rug wool, often from old mills, the thickness of the weaving has a physicality enhancing the ‘weight’ of the imagery.

The exhibition has been so well received it has been extended for another week, so if you are in London make the trip to see it and experience the impact of this incredible work.

 

 

Erin M. Riley | Look Back At It is exhibiting at Mother’s Tankstation until 8th March. For more information visit https://www.motherstankstation.com/exhibitions/ and https://erinmriley.com/home.html