Kaffe Fassett: A Life in Colour Exhibition

The FTM exhibition represents a genuinely rare opportunity to enjoy Fassett’s way with needlepoint, patchwork, knitting, and other media, and showcases over 100 works – including new items that haven’t been exhibited in public before.

Exhibition at the Fashion and Textile Museum, London
until 29 June 2013

Fans of Kaffe Fassett – and there are many – will have rejoiced to hear that the object of their devotion was having a substantial retrospective at London’s FTM.

Images from FTM

The capital’s last show featuring the work of the 76-year-old, San Francisco-born, England-resident textile artist took place at the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1988, when he acquired the distinction of being the first living textile artist to have a dedicated exhibition at that august institute. It surprised everyone by breaking attendance records for the museum, and subsequently toured several countries. (Apparently 5% of Iceland’s population visited the Reykjavik show.)

Kaffe Fassett Exhibition at the Fashion and Textile Museum London with touchable walls

Kaffe Fassett Exhibition at the Fashion and Textile Museum London

Therefore, the FTM exhibition represents a genuinely rare opportunity to enjoy Fassett’s way with needlepoint, patchwork, knitting, and other media, and showcases over 100 works – including new items that haven’t been exhibited in public before.

Kaffe Fassett’s home

Kaffe Fassett’s Dining Room

Conceived by the British interior and textile designer Sue Timney, the show also boasts extravagantly-coloured 9 ft-wide knitted shawls, coats and throws, patchwork fabrics shown in a glorious selection of quilts, and a ‘feeling wall’ that invites museumgoers to experience Fassett’s materials through tactile appreciation.

The FTM’s Fassett show is a feast of pattern, texture, colour and creativity in the textile arts, and is highly recommended.

Opening Hours

Tuesdays to Saturdays, 11am – 6pm

Last Admissions 5.15pm

Closed Sunday and Monday