Tapestry SPOTLIGHT:
OCT-DEC 2025
Diane Victor
Bareback
Bareback (Trojan), first woven in 2020, was a real challenge for the studio. Diane Victor’s exceptional draughtsmanship made for a few intense weeks establishing how to develop the cartoon and then several more actually weaving the tapestry. The final size is 2.5m x 2m.
Diane is the 2025 recipient of the Mario Avati Printmaking Prize from the Academie des Beaux Arts' in France. This comes on the back of an honorary doctorate awarded earlier this year from the University of Pretoria. Her work also forms part of the Victoria and Albert Museum collection in London as well as the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
The original design for Bareback (Trojan) was one of four equestrian lithographs. We will weave 3/3 of this design in the new year as well as another work from this series called Bayard.
Sam Nhlengethwa
Ascot corner
Sam Nhlengethwa’s tapestry Ascot Corner captures perfectly the grittiness of old Johannesburg. Built in the 1930’s the building in the suburb of Bertrams has suffered the same neglect as many inner city buildings. Yet there is a certain colourful panache and energy too that Sam’s artworks and tapestries bring to life. As with much of his work the design for Ascot Corner is a feast of visual layers, part photograph, part collage and part drawing. It is a technique that slightly distorts the image and forces the viewer to constantly review what they are seeing.
est. 1962
Every part of our tapestry process, from carding, spinning and dyeing to weaving, is proudly done by hand by more than 30 women across Johannesburg and Eswatini
