Joana Vasconcelos: Material World

A monograph on Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelos, focusing on her extraordinary work with textiles.

Joana Vasconcelos: Material World presents the work of Joana Vasconcelos, one of the most respected and sought-after artists of the 21st century. Her forte is using non-traditional materials, particularly textiles, to create monumental and expansive works that intrigue, inspire, and entertain viewers.

Vasconcelos first rose to acclaim with a chandelier decorated with tampons exhibited at the Venice Biennale in 2005. Since then, she has held solo exhibitions at Versailles and Manchester Art Gallery. She aims to re-present and subvert everyday objects, often manipulating scale and form, with a special interest in the role of women and objects associated with them.

The book focuses on her extraordinary works in textiles and highlights her 'Valkyries' series—vibrant patchwork extravaganzas that weave together knitting and crochet with silk, velvets, recycled clothes, and industrially produced textiles embellished with Portuguese tassels, crystals, and beads.

Essays by Enrique Juncosa and Crispin Sartwell offer thoughtful and in-depth overviews of her work and its development over the past fourteen years.