Support for RugLife is made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The Museum of Craft and Design’s exhibitions and programs are generously supported by Anonymous, the Windgate Foundation, and Grants for the Arts.
Rugs and carpets have defined the character of space since animal skins began to warm and adorn cave dwellings; the earliest known Persian rugs are nearly 2500 years old. Given this long history—entwined with religion, culture, and nature—it is not surprising that artists continue to find potential in the form of the rug. While many artists take a formal approach to the subject matter, others engage in cultural critique, taking on the appropriation of cultural, racial, and gender roles and stereotypes within the framework of a decorative object turned art object.
Guest curated by Ginger Gregg Duggan and Judith Hoos Fox of c2-curatorsquared, RugLife features the work of 14 contemporary artists from around the world who use the rug as a medium to address cultural issues such as religion, technology, social justice, housing, and the environment.
