Past Exhibitions
Browse the museum's past exhibitions, inlcuding those held at The Textile Museum's original location in Washington, D.C.'s Kalorama neighborhood. Designed to both present textiles as art, and to place them in their cultural context, Textile Museum exhibitions have primarily showcased its permanent collections, but also featured works from other textile arts drawn from a variety of public and private holdings.
Mamluk Rugs from Egypt: Jewels of The Textile Museum's Collection
A stunning display of one of the most significant groups of classical carpets, this exhibition highlighted one of the great strengths of The Textile Museum's collections.
Hold It: Textiles as Containers
Drawn exclusively from The Textile Museum's collections, "Hold It" celebrated the use of textiles as containers.
The Classical Tradition in Anatolian Carpets
This exhibition provided a unique opportunity to explore the artistry of Turkish pile carpets.
Secrets of Silk
This exhibition explored the production and use of one of the world's most luxurious fibers.
Hidden Threads of Peru: Q'ero Textiles
This exhibition highlighted the rich and complex tradition of Q'ero textiles.
Technology as Catalyst: Textile Artists on the Cutting Edge
An exhibition of textile art created using revolutionary digital technologies, "Technology as Catalyst" explored the marriage of high-tech equipment and handwork.
From the Amu Darya to the Potomac: Central Asian Bags from Area Collections
This exhibition featured a selection of Central Asian pile bags, dating from the nineteenth century and earlier, that combine beauty with diverse utilitarian function.
Flowers of Silk and Gold: Four Centuries of Ottoman Embroidery
Ottoman art, including embroidered textiles, reflects both the abundance and wealth of the Ottoman Empire, which spanned seven centuries and preceded modern Turkey.
On View
Best Laid Plans: Designs for a Capital City
This exhibition examines unrealized designs for the Washington Monument, Memorial Bridge, and other structures around the city, through historical prints and paintings from the collection.
Songs of the Civil War
This exhibition showcases historical sheet music that provided the soundtrack to a nation divided by war.
Selections from The Textile Museum Collection
You can always find a rotating selection of objects from The Textile Museum Collection on view in the museum's lower-level galleries, including many objects that have rarely or never before been displayed.
Treasures from the Albert H. Small Collection
A selection of maps, letters, prints, and artifacts on display from the museum’s Albert H. Small Washingtoniana Collection includes recent acquisitions and rare treasures.
Textiles 101
Interactive displays allow you to enter the mind of an artist to explore fiber, structure, color, and the creative choices that influence textile design.
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Washington, DC 20052
Phone: 202-994-5200
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