A Traveling Thread

Follow a single thread on a journey where fabric becomes a language all its own. This exhibition brings together two unique ways of seeing the world: the vision of Sheila Hicks, a pioneering American textile artist, and the expertise of Monique Lévi-Strauss, a researcher with a deep passion for global textile history.

Together, they celebrate the incredible skill, variety, and poetry of weaving. Their long-standing friendship has created a fascinating conversation between ancient museum pieces and modern art. You’ll find about twenty historic works from the museum’s collection paired with thirty of Sheila’s vibrant creations. Inspired by ancient Andean traditions, Sheila reimagines timeless techniques—like knotting, braiding, and coiling—to transform raw materials into something extraordinary. It is a story of textiles that spans cultures and centuries.

Right at the entrance, a massive installation by Sheila Hicks welcomes you, offering an immediate taste of how heritage and modern creativity come together.

Sheila Hicks (born 1934) began her journey as a painter before turning her focus to textile arts. While studying at Yale in 1954, she discovered the beauty of pre-Colombian textiles through her teachers. Later, a scholarship took her to South America, where she worked alongside local artisans to deepen her craft. Today, she is world-renowned for her bold use of color and texture.

Monique Lévi-Strauss (born 1926) took a different path, leaving a career in medicine to dedicate herself to textile research. She became a leading expert on Kashmir shawls, organizing major exhibitions and writing definitive books on the subject. Her bond with Sheila is a long one; back in 1973, she even wrote the very first biography about Sheila’s life and work.