Sapar Contemporary Presents 'Master of the Loom': A Landmark Exhibition for Ethel Stein

4 hours ago7 min read

Sapar Contemporary is proud to present 'Master of the Loom,' a landmark solo exhibition celebrating the profound legacy of American artist Ethel Stein. This comprehensive retrospective illuminates the career of a visionary who, after years of working in relative obscurity, earned her place as a pivotal figure in the fiber arts movement.Stein's artistic journey began not with thread, but with string, as a puppeteer—an experience that deeply informed her understanding of narrative, movement, and form, which she later translated into her woven works. The transition from puppetry to weaving was a natural evolution for Stein, moving from animating three-dimensional characters to instilling dynamic life into two-dimensional textiles.The exhibition showcases tapestries renowned for their technical mastery and poetic subtlety, many woven on a massive, custom-built loom in her home. In contrast to the more expressive tendencies of her peers, Stein developed a uniquely minimalist voice.She harnessed the inherent grid of the loom as a powerful compositional tool, creating complex geometric patterns and nuanced illusions of light and shadow through the meticulous interplay of warp and weft. To view her iconic 'Black and White' series is to observe a masterful performance of contrast and rhythm, where every thread is a deliberate and essential actor.Stein’s story is a powerful reminder of the enduring value of dedication. She wove for decades without widespread acclaim, her genius cultivated in quiet focus until a late-career rediscovery brought her the recognition she deserved. This exhibition serves as a vital act of historical acknowledgment, cementing Ethel Stein's substantial and sublime contribution to American art and affirming that true mastery is often forged in patient, passionate work away from the spotlight.

#featured

#Ethel Stein

#weaving

#textile art

#exhibition

#Sapar Contemporary

#American artist

#master weaver

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