Sheila Hicks–A Life in Textiles

Photo by Christobal Zanartu Sheila Hicks is a major global artist, one of the women who moved textiles from the world of craft to the world of art. Born in Nebraska in 1934, she started art school as a painter but became fascinated with weaving on a trip to Peru. In the course of her life, she has collaborated with weavers in India, Japan, Sweden, and other areas known for their distinctive weaving techniques. Her art is held by major museums and adorns public spaces, such as the famous textile wall at the Ford Foundation in New York City. Pictures of Hicks show her wearing interesting, hand-loomed textiles. She has even made her own outfits from cloth she wove herself. Her work has included textile designs for Knoll Fabrics, and recently she created textile accessories for a clothing collection by Stella McCartney. Photo by Antoine Doyen Time magazine just named Sheila Hicks one of the most important artists of 2026, calling her a “textile pioneer.” She’s had that role since the…