Art Review

How Textiles Weave Together the Cycle of Life

Four exhibitions currently up in Chicago each take a unique approach to the possibilities of working with textiles today, some with humor, others with gravitas.

Lori Waxman

October 9, 2025 — 8 min read

A talismanic tunic made in Mali during the 20th century. The “charm gown” protects its wearer both spiritually and physically by being decorated with powerful inscriptions and a special mixture. (all photos Lori Waxman/Hyperallergic, unless otherwise noted)

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Shape Your Artistic Future at UC Davis: The Maria Manetti Shrem Art Studio MFA Program

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Exhibition as Living Archive: the 1950s Baghdad Modern Art Group in the UAE Today

All Manner of Experiments: Legacies of the Baghdad Modern Art Group, Curated by Nada Shabout, on view at the NYU Abu Dhabi Art Gallery through January 3, 2027