Biography

A pioneer in the revitalization of fiber arts and weaving as a method of artistic expression, Kay Sekimachi expanded the limits of the medium with inventive techniques and strategies. A key figure in the fiber arts movement in the 1960s, Sekimachi broke away from the wall-hanging tapestries the movement was known for and became famous for her hanging abstract sculptures such as Katsura (1971), a piece made from nylon monofilament that explored space and movement. Recognized as a “weaver’s weaver,” Sekimachi uses the weaving loom and flexible materials such as thread, paper, and fabric to create three-dimensional sculptures. Inspired by the shapes, forms, and colors stemming from her Japanese heritage, her work is in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, the Museum of International Folk Art, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.