What role does abstraction play in deconstructing fabric’s gendered history?

Abstraction plays a pivotal role in dismantling the gendered history of fabric by subverting traditional narratives and reclaiming textile art as a medium of feminist expression. Historically, fabrics like lace, embroidery, and quilting were relegated to "women's work," dismissed as decorative or domestic. Through abstraction, contemporary artists disrupt these associations, transforming textiles into bold, conceptual works that challenge gendered stereotypes.

By stripping fabric of its literal forms, abstraction allows artists to critique societal norms and highlight the labor, skill, and cultural significance often overlooked in textile history. This approach repositions fabric as a site of resistance, where fluid, non-representational designs defy binary classifications. From Judy Chicago’s monumental installations to the subversive stitching of Tracey Emin, abstraction becomes a tool to question power structures and celebrate marginalized voices.

Ultimately, abstraction in textile art not only deconstructs fabric’s gendered past but also reimagines its future—one where materiality and meaning are unbound by tradition.