Kira c. 20th century

This Kira, here at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, is a textile artwork of unknown date made by an anonymous artist. The stripes of creamy linen and plum-purple cotton are so captivating! You can see the process of creation here, the way the materials guided the composition. The whole piece sings with the physical presence of the fiber. The texture invites touch, each imperfection telling a story. Notice how the dye in the plum stripes varies, creating a sense of depth. See how the intersections of the warp and weft create subtle shifts in color and pattern, like a conversation between the horizontal and vertical. I’m reminded of Anni Albers, another textile artist who explored the endless possibilities of the loom. Like Albers, the maker of this Kira shows us that art isn’t always about answers; it’s about asking questions, embracing the unexpected, and finding beauty in the process.