Women's Textiles Across Africa: The Symbolic and the Practical

Across the African continent women are integral members of their communities, contributing as leaders, artists, entrepreneurs, and spiritual guides. While historically charged narratives led to misunderstood, romanticized, and stereotyped perspectives of African women through Western lenses, revised approaches toward understanding the role of women across the continent are presenting new inclusive dialogs. This exhibit will re-introduce visitors to a broad view of women’s lives across the African continent by highlighting a selection of textiles designed, crafted, and worn by women to celebrate their status, identity, wealth, and role in maintaining equilibrium in African societies.

This exhibition was curated by CSU LEAP Institute for the Arts intern Abby Rose under the supervision of Dr. David Riep, Associate Professor and Area Coordinator, Art History, Department of Art and Art History, and Associate Curator of African Art. Support for this project is generously provided by Colorado Creative Industries and by the FUNd Endowment at CSU.