The ocean landscapes of environmental activist and textile artist Vanessa Barragao use a variety of different fiber art techniques to bring attention to the desperate need to save our ocean resources. Barragao’s fiber sculptures bring the viewer up close and allow them to interact with an underwater world of beauty that is quickly disappearing due to natural and man-made forces. Vanessa’s textile sculptures are three-dimensional and life-sized, creating an immersive experience.
Babak Kazemi uses the medium of photography to recount ancient tales that inspire and that are thought-provoking. Using Persian carpets as the backdrop, Persian artist Babak Kazemi recounts the tragic and ancient tale of Shirin and Farhad through photographs. Using beautiful Persian carpets to set the scene, Kazemi pays homage to the ancient traditions but gives them a contemporary twist.
The art of paper quilling is believed to have begun in the 15th century. It was created by French and Italian nuns to decorate special religious objects. Lisa Nilsson is a contemporary artist who takes this art form to new levels, creating magnificent renditions of Persian carpets using only compact coils of Japanese mulberry paper.
Royal palaces and residences all around the world are always the subject of envy for their beautiful decor, art, and specifically, rugs and carpets. Royal palace rugs and carpets are dignified, majestic, and breathtaking. Rooted in centuries of history and nobility, royal palaces are known for classical and opulent design themes. This includes heavy, luxurious curtains and drapery, gold gilded furniture and wall adornments, stately fine art, and sumptuous, palatial rugs. One can see both medallion and all over designs in these rugs, depending on the rest of the decor in the room.
Throughout history, certain events left their mark on the development of the carpet industry and design. The spread of Islam and the advent of Islamic art and the Islamic carpets is one of those events that contributed to the beautiful patterns and colors that we enjoy today. Persian carpet design in particular was greatly influenced by Islamic traditions.
Interior designer Philip La Bossiere asserts, “I am not a beige guy in any sense of the word” in reference to both his colorful interiors and his exuberant personality. He has spent the past twenty-plus years cultivating his reputation as a sincere, hands-on decorator with timeless and unexpected design schemes. Always excited by antique and Continental furniture, either at auction or abroad, La Bossiere prefers strong contrasts, rich color schemes, and a dash of the exotic. He was educated at Parsons School of Design, and in apprenticeship to renowned designer David Barrett, where he learned to execute designs that are timeless without ever feeling conservative.
The City of Doha, Qatar, is a modern and beautiful city rising from the desert sands surrounding the Persian Gulf. It is also home to one of the biggest and most important antique Persian rug and Oriental carpet collections in the world. The collection of the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha Qatar is housed in a beautifully designed, modern building with breathtaking architecture.
The Victoria and Albert Museum in London is the preeminent museum of art and design. It is also home to one of the most extensive historical carpet collections in the world. The collection houses some exquisite pieces, including examples of some of the oldest rugs in the world. The V&A museum collection presents rare carpets from many regions of the world, but its most significant group is its 1,170 carpets from the Middle East and North Africa. This collection is a real treat that brings in visitors from around the globe.
If you are planning a trip to Istanbul Turkey and you love antique Oriental carpets, the Topkapi Palace Museum has a collection that you do not want to miss. A visit to the collection of antique rugs at Topkapi Palace Museum is like stepping back in time. It has one of the most extensive collections of textiles and carpets in the world. The museum houses some of the finest examples of Ottoman Empire textile art dating from the second half of the fifteenth century to the early 20th century.