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Fibre Arts Australia’s third International Art Textile Biennale is now touring. The exhibition features the work of 39 textile artists from 10 countries and will be visiting nine galleries across Australia through September 2026.
Among those featured, three Australian artists were presented with biennale awards at the exhibit’s first showing at the East Gippsland Art Gallery. Awards included the Major Award, the Australian Excellence Award and the Glenys Mann Award of Excellence.
Sue Coppock won the Major Award for her piece Are You Wearing a Mask Right Now? The artwork is a fencing mask made of nylon fabric with an enthusiastic-looking face embroidered on it. She says it is meant to mirror the common human habit of putting a mask on when meeting new people.
Claudia Mazzotta won the Australian Excellence Award for Untouched Terrains. The piece is made from an antique tablecloth, fabric scraps, cotton thread and acrylic paint. Trimmed in lace, the colorful piece depicts the Australian landscape from an aerial view. The patches of fabric scraps overlap to form shapes that represent different parts of Mazzotta’s life.
Nicola Oliver won the Glenys Mann Award for her piece Shadows Where Life Once Was. The needle-felted artwork represents the pain and grief of pregnancy loss, adoption and surrogacy.
Fibre Arts Australia has hosted textile artist workshops and events across Australia and New Zealand for more than 25 years. The organization’s mission is to recognize and support contemporary textile artists and their work.
The exhibition is currently on display at Gartakers Artspace in Maryborough, Australia, until Oct. 17. Its next stop is Roxy Gallery in Kyogle, Nov. 7, 2025–March 1, 2026.