The Craft of Cloth: A Lifelong Investigation
Explore Sarah Zapata’s transformative artistic practice
Known for her vibrant use of color and texture, Sarah Zapata’s work challenges traditional views of craft and the role of textiles in contemporary art. Here, the artist explores the depth of her work and creative processes behind her new installation 'Upon the Divide of Vermilion', in conversation with its curator Larry Ossei-Mensah.
Making its debut in the UBS Art Studio at Art Basel Miami Beach 2024, presented in collaboration with ARTNOIR, the installation explores the powerful themes of identity and transformation, using the familiar medium of cloth to forge new connections between past and present.
Working with textiles was really born out of the idea of not understanding how I existed in these two very different cultural situations
Zapata views weaving as a “life’s investigation,” a craft that requires patience, resilience, and a deep connection to history. Through her work, she invites us to reconsider what textiles can convey, urging us to see the beauty and power in tradition while embracing change.
Sarah’s artistic practice operates at the intersection of art, textiles, and architecture. I find this really exciting because she is challenging the definitions of what can be considered a sculpture or an art object.
Visitors can expect to be drawn into an “immersive, vibrant and tactile experience,” Ossei-Mensah adds, celebrating the pliability and fluidity of textiles. The installation is also an extension of Zapata’s series, which takes inspiration from ancient ruins and combines elements of architecture into her textile-based sculptural practice.
In town for the fair? Visit the UBS Art Studio in the southwest corner of the show floor near the Positions sector from December 6-8, 2024. Sarah Zapata will also host pom-pom-making workshops, inviting all fair visitors to engage in a playful and creative exploration of fiber art.
Visitors can also hear more about the transformative power of art as Sarah Zapata joins UBS Art Collection artist Sagarika Sundaram for an exciting conversation on 'Transformation: craft, identity, and materiality in art' moderated by Larry Ossei-Mensah, the talk is part of Art Basel’s free public ‘Conversations’ program in the Auditorium from EST on Saturday December 7, 2024.
