What role does abstraction play in fabric’s challenge to artistic hierarchies?
Abstraction plays a pivotal role in fabric art's challenge to traditional artistic hierarchies by dismantling the perceived boundaries between "craft" and "fine art." Through non-representational forms, textile artists elevate fabric beyond its utilitarian origins, asserting its place in high art discourse. The tactile, layered nature of abstract fabric works subverts elitist notions of medium superiority, privileging materiality and process over rigid categorization. By embracing ambiguity and conceptual depth, abstraction allows fabric art to critique institutional biases while expanding the definition of contemporary artistic practice. This shift reflects broader democratizing trends in art, where medium specificity gives way to interdisciplinary innovation.
