Theo Moorman (1907 – 1990) British Weaver and Designer

Theo Moorman weft inlays

Theo Moorman (1907 – 1990) was a devoted artist with a lifetime of experience. She created her technique over a wide range of designs and textural combinations, exploring its potential. A new invention was every piece of work, and they were always full of vitality.

Education

She worked on woven textiles as a student of the Central School of Art, London, and had valuable experience at Warner & Sons, Braintree, and the Ministry of Aircraft Production. She set up her studio, after ten stimulating years at the Arts Council.

Developed new techniques

Moorman experimented with unusual and new yarns to produce fabrics in Modern motifs and patterns, including the use of brocade techniques, weft inlays, and yarns such as natural fibres, trail rays, metallic strips and cellophane.

Cathedrals and churches in Great Britain and the United States are to be found displaying her large commissioned works. In later years, her most significant output was weaving wall hangings, designed mostly for private houses.

Teaching her weaving technique

In the early 1970s, share her weaving technique, and for an insight into the motivation and theory behind her work, she started to respond to several requests for tuition. For ten consecutive years, in addition to a variety of summer schools in the UK, she led workshops in the USA each year. In 1975, her book, Weaving as an Art Form, was published.

  • Encrusted Gold and Flame – Woven Hanging, 1987 by Theo Moorman
  • Example of the simple supplementary weft technique by Theo Moorman
  • Blue Gradations – Woven Hanging, c. 1975 by Theo Moorman
  • Seashore – Woven Hanging, c. 1986. by Theo Moorman

Sources

Byars, M., & Riley, T. (2004). The design encyclopedia. Laurence King Publishing.

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