Wall Hangings

Macramé artists such as Emily Katz and Sally England have been heralded as some of the most innovative champions of the medium. Primarily working with the traditional small-scale hangings and teaching workshops, Katz’s work has helped evolve the DIY practice into a major trend in design. While England, who works on large-scale commissions with companies like Instagram and Nike as well as solo exhibitions with Now Space Gallery and Esqueleto in Los Angeles has helped bridge the gap between design and art.

The gap is continually narrowing with young artists such as Rosha Yaghmai who work in mixed media to create wall hangings made from alternative materials like rubber, or optical lenses as in her piece Optometer, Curtain which was shown at Kanye Griffin Corcoran.

San Francisco-based artist Dana Hemenway works with similarly unexpected materials to make sculptures that more immediately riff off of the macramé craft. Fusing tech with the traditional weaving style, Hemenway’s works utilize cord, plug-ins, ceramics, and lightbulbs to arrive at chic industrial pieces.

Working with more typical materials such as poplar, silk, and beading artist Cindy Hsu Zell creates works that recall decorative curtain rope, elevated here to minimalist tassels that invite touch and movement. Zell, who is based in Los Angeles, has collaborated with designers such as Kudd Krig Home to create custom pillows and textiles. Similar to macramé, air plant installation and interior landscaping is quickly becoming as ubiquitous as framed art in spaces. Josh Rosen, aka Airplantman, has quickly become a well-known name in the field fusing air plants and sculpture. Framed works for hanging, as well as small sculptural vases, and large-scale installations all comprise Rosen’s practice.