As part of its program of exhibition visits our Art Appreciation 3 class visited the Australian Tapestry Workshop (ATW) in South Melbourne on 9 June. This extraordinary facility is virtually unknown to the general Victorian populous even though it is a world-class creative institution.
ATW tapestries can be found worldwide
Established in 1976, the ATW is a not-for-profit visual arts organisation with a global reputation for creating contemporary hand-woven tapestries. It has woven over 500 tapestries, which hang in significant public and private collections both nationally and internationally.
ATW tapestries can be found across Australia at leading institutions such as the National Gallery of Australia, National Library, Sydney Opera House, Arts Centre Melbourne, as well as at prominent government locations including Parliament House and the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. Their magnificent tapestries are also held in many corporate and private collections, and appear in nine Australian embassies worldwide.
You are welcome to visit
Located at 262 Park Street, South Melbourne ATW’s open studio, colour laboratory and galleries are definitely worth a visit by those interested in the visual arts. https://www.austapestry.com.au/contact
An extraordinary example of the ATW’s work can easily be seen at the Victorian State Library. The Gordian Knot tapestry is based on UK artist and Turner Prize recipient’s painting and was gifted to the Library in 2017. https://blogs.slv.vic.gov.au/news/gordian-knot-tapestry-gifted-to-state-library-victoria/