On view May 30 - June 28, 2026
Opening Reception Sunday, May 31, 1-4 pm
Thinking Through Tapestry is a juried exhibition featuring work that celebrates, explores, and builds upon specialized techniques often associated with tapestry. Selected artists explore techniques that consist of discontinuous weft-faced woven processes rooted in tapestry techniques, such as wedge weave, pulled tapestry, the use of hachures, or other structures, including the H.V. (Handarbetets Vänner) technique. The exhibition highlights work illustrating the close relationship between tapestry weaving, drawing, painting, and sculpture.
The jurors of the exhibition are Emily Silver and Erin M. Riley.
Emily Silver lives and works in Los Angeles and is on the faculty at Santa Monica College in the Sculpture Department and the Director/Curator of the Pete and Susan Barrett Gallery. She is also the co-founder of L.A. Tactile Lab, along with Svetlana Shigroff and Liv Aanrud.
Erin M. Riley is a Brooklyn-based artist whose work focuses on women and women’s issues primarily in hand-woven, hand-dyed wool tapestries. Riley’s work challenges society’s comfort level by displaying shocking images, including nudity, drugs, violence, self-harm, sexuality, and menstruation.
A catalog accompanies the exhibition and is available for purchase on the American Tapestry Alliance’s website.
Juried Artists
Laura Burcin, Barbara Burns, Emily Cabaniss, Ching-Ting Chiu, Jasmine Claros, Molly Cleator, Deborah Corsini, Nancy Crampton, Sharon Crary, Liliana Crespi, Sam Dienst, Alex Friedman, Rama Ganesan, Tricia Goldberg, Anne Heide, Barbara Heller, Sally Heller, Sofia Herr, Connie Lynn Higgs, Christine Holtz, Rebecca Hooper, Cameron Kashani, Judit Eszter Kárpáti, Kristin Kelley-Munoz, Brendan Kenny, Riley Klein, Robbie LaFleur, Mary Lane, Fannie Lee, Monique Lehman, Connie Lippert, Kyle McKeown Mansfield, Ann Marie Miller, Pip Milton, Janet Moore, Annabelle O’Reilly, Tea Okropiridze, Anna Olsson, Libby Raab, Ellen Ramsey, Helena Richardson, Minna Rothman, Wendy Saam, Kristin Tinsa Saeterdal, Jennifer Sargent, Rowen Schussheim-Anderson, Mary-Ann Sievert, Kyla Sjogren, Rebecca Smith, Linda Soranno, Karmen Steigenga, Vicki Stone, Adrienn Szabo, Kathe Todd-Hooker, Trang Tran, Alta Turner, David van Buskirk, Stevie Van Housen, Ginny Wallace, Sue Weil, and Xingyi Zhao.
GALLERY HOURS & VISITOR INFORMATION
This exhibition will be held in the First Floor Gallery of the Evanston Art Center (EAC). Masks are optional but strongly recommended for students, visitors, and staff.
Gallery Hours
Monday–Thursday: 9am–6pm
Friday: 9am–5pm
Saturday–Sunday: 9am–4pm
HOW TO PURCHASE ARTWORK
Artwork sale proceeds benefit both the artist and the Evanston Art Center. If you are interested in purchasing artwork on display, please contact Emma Rose Gudewicz, Director of Development and Exhibitions, at [email protected] or (847) 475-5300 x 102.

This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council through federal funds provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.
Image Credits (L to R): Sam Dienst, Tea Okropiridze, and Libby Raab



