WASHINGTON (August 13, 2025)—The Textile Museum is celebrating its first century and looking ahead with an exhibition of some 60 masterworks drawn entirely from its renowned collection in "Enduring Traditions: Celebrating the World of Textiles," on view August 16 through December 20, 2025. From royal robes to ceremonial carpets, the exhibition spotlights exceptional textiles that reveal traditions and values of communities around the globe. “Enduring Traditions” also pairs select works by contemporary artists with the historical textiles that inspired them.
Founded in 1925 by George Hewitt Myers (1875-1957), the museum was originally housed in two historic buildings in D.C.'s Kalorama neighborhood. This year, The Textile Museum celebrates a decade since it reopened as The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum on the university's Foggy Bottom campus. Its collection includes some 21,000 handmade textiles representing five continents and five millennia.
"Enduring Traditions" showcases important artworks donated to The Textile Museum by private collectors in the last 25 years," said John Wetenhall, director, The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum. "This is the latest in our series of exhibitions, along with our public programs and centennial publications, that demonstrate the deep and dynamic engagement our museum has with communities on campus, in D.C. and around the world." “Enduring Traditions” follows an earlier centennial exhibition, “Intrinsic Beauty: Celebrating the Art of Textiles,” which focused on The Textile Museum Collection's 20th-century foundations. Another exhibition, “Source Material: Lessons in Responsible Fashion,” on view through April 11, 2026, is inspired by an academic course at GW that grew out of student interest in exploring the connections between sustainability and textiles.
Enduring Traditions: Celebrating the World of Textiles
"Enduring Traditions" magnifies the cultural significance of the works displayed over two floors and explores how they express identity, lifestyles, beliefs, and customs of origin. A distinctive colorful blouse, or huipil, from Guatemala that reveals the Mayan weaver's local heritage, and a cotton wrapper, or “ukara,” of the Ezillo people in Nigeria, which displays ideographic designs that function as coded communication for an all-male secret society, are among artworks that illustrate how people communicate personal and social identity through clothing.
A knotted pile carpet that would have served as a colorful focal point in a grand Persian hall is among some seven carpets on view dating from the 17th to 20th centuries and representing cultures that stretch from across North Africa to China. A large Kurdish carpet executed with great precision may have been a commissioned piece, intended for use in a spacious setting such as a reception room for guests.
Textiles used in ceremonies and celebrations that strengthened community bonds include an Indian saree finely woven with silk and metallic-wrapped yarns that was originally part of a wedding trousseau, as was, most likely, a colorfully embroidered “suzani” cover from Uzbekistan. Two festival jackets from southwest China feature patterns that refer to myths and legends of the Miao people.
Finely made textiles that were created for use in religious observances and rituals range from a miniature poncho from Bolivia, probably meant for a statue in a Catholic church, to a shawl from Laos densely patterned with imagery thought to assist and guard shamans on their perilous journeys between this world and the numinous realm of spirits and ancestors.
A contemporary tapestry, Congressional Constraint, woven by John Eric Riis in 2012, echoes the extravagance of a 14th-century Chimú tunic—with which it is paired—by incorporating precious materials including silk, gold, and coral. Riis makes a contemporary political statement while echoing the ancient garment's form.
Many of the artworks are displayed with images that show how they were originally worn or used. Demet Cabbar of Arlington,Virginia, is among several heritage community members in the Washington, D.C. area who were invited to reflect on some of the works in the show. Her commentary accompanies a brilliant turquoise Turkish headscarf: "Delicately adorned with Oya lace, this handkerchief reminds me of my grandmothers and their sisters, who wove love and devotion into every thread. Once a token of care, a warrior's adornment, and a symbol of resilience, it carries the whispers of an era when patience was love and effort was its truest expression."
Printed gallery guides in the exhibition encourage visitors to contemplate the works in “Enduring Traditions" through the themes of Power, Spirituality, Lifestyles, and Community Voices. Exhibition curators are Sumru Belger Krody, Lee Talbot and Shelley Burian.
Special Public and Member Programs
The public is invited for a special centennial edition of the museum’s annual Celebration of Textiles community festival. "Celebration of Textiles: Enduring Traditions," on Saturday, September 6, 2025, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., includes a dazzling array of special performances, demonstrations, and activities led by practicing artists and diaspora communities from the Washington area. The event is free.
For in-person gallery tours led by experienced docents for a group of up to 20 people, submit an online request at least three weeks in advance. Scheduled member tours are also offered. If you are not currently a member, you can join online.
Centennial Collections Book - "Textile Treasures"
In honor of The Textile Museum’s centennial, “Textile Treasures” is the first major publication to bring together global masterworks from the collection, including artworks on display in "Enduring Traditions." Produced in collaboration with Hali Publications, it features stunning photography along with research from curators Sumru Belger Krody, Lee Talbot and Shelley Burian, as well as contributors Carol M. Bier, Walter B. Denny, Barbara G. and David W. Fraser, Mariachiara Gasparini, Mattiebelle Gittinger, Louise W. Mackie, Ann Pollard Rowe and Rebecca A. T. Stevens. Visit the Artisans Gallery to purchase a copy and discover a selection of limited-edition centennial merchandise.
Exhibition and Related Centennial Program Support
Lead support for activities celebrating the museum’s centennial is provided by an anonymous donor, the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation, and the Estate of Peter L. Sheldon.
Visiting Information
The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum is located on GW’s Foggy Bottom campus at 701 21st St. NW, in Washington, D.C., just blocks from the Smithsonian Renwick Gallery, White House, Kennedy Center and the National Mall. Galleries are open to the public Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed on university holidays. Admission to the museum is free. For information on the museum's visiting hours, exhibitions and educational programs, please check the museum website.
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