Helena Hernmarck: A Date for your Diary

On Thursday March 27th 2025, as part of The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum’s Contemporary Voices series, renowned tapestry artist Helena Hernmarck will offer a presentation both in person and online of her recent explorations in colour, material, and form.

Artist Helena Hernmarck in her studio. Photo by Ross Mantle.

With a career spanning over six decades, Hernmarck has continuously pushed the boundaries of woven art, and in this talk, she will share insights into the evolution of her practice. From monumental architectural commissions to experimental techniques that challenge traditional notions of tapestry, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of Hernmarck’s artistic vision, the technical mastery behind her work, and her ongoing exploration of materials.

Winter, 2005. Collection of the Related Companies, New York, NY.

Known for her innovative approach to weaving, Hernmarck harnesses the luminous qualities of wool to create illusions of light and shadow. Her signature technique allows her to render strikingly lifelike details - sunlight on water, sails billowing in the wind - while also embracing abstraction. In addition to wool, she has pioneered unconventional materials such as paper and punchinella, the byproduct of sequin production, demonstrating her ongoing fascination with texture and surface.

Throughout the presentation, Hernmarck will discuss the creative process behind her large-scale tapestries, revealing how each piece begins as an image and is meticulously woven row by row over months at the loom. She will also reflect on the artistic influences that have shaped her career, including her collaborations with architects such as Philip Johnson, I. M. Pei, George Nelson, Chuck Bassett, and Kevin Roche. Her commissioned works have been integrated into modern architectural spaces worldwide, reinforcing tapestry’s relevance in contemporary design.

Helena Hernmarck, Color Triptyk, 2005. Cotsen Collection. 

This event will also provide a rare opportunity to hear Hernmarck’s personal insights on two major projects: Sourcing the Museum (The Textile Museum, 2012) and The Box Project, curated by Lloyd Cotsen. These projects highlight her ability to bridge historical textile traditions with modern innovation, an approach that has cemented her legacy in the field.

Hernmarck’s work is held in major museum collections, including the Museum of Modern Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Her tapestries, when viewed from a distance, offer a bold and cohesive image, but up close, they dissolve into a mesmerising interplay of countless colour variations woven into warp and weft. Whether you are familiar with her work or discovering it for the first time, this talk offers an inspiring look into the mind of one of the most influential textile artists of our time.

How to Participate in the Talk:

Join in person at the museum, or register to watch the livestream online via Zoom. 

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Further Information:

Website: Helena Hernmarck

Instagram: @helenahernmarckstudio

George Washington Museum and Textile Museum

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Image Credits:

Lead Image: Helena Hernmarck - Waterfall (Ristafallet), 1986, Collection of Ringhals Nuclear Power Station, Väröbacka, Sweden. 

1 and 3: Ross Mantle

2: Helena Hernmarck / Collection of the Related Companies

4: Photo by Bruce M. White. © Lloyd Cotsen, 2016