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Anni Albers - With Verticals, 1946, cotton and linen, 154.9 x 118.1 cm — Anni Albers – *With Verticals*, 1946, cotton and linen, 154.9 x 118.1 cm

Introduction

Anni Albers was a well known German textile artist and prominent printmaker. She is perhaps one of the most well-known print artists of the 20th century. Albers dared to go where no textile designer had gone before, which in part helped to launch her designs into popularity.

Born in Berlin, Albers became a student of the Bauhaus in Weimar which is where she met and married Josef Albers.

Albers, sometimes with help from her husband, managed to blur traditional boundaries between craft and art. Albers blended her talent as a painter, designer, artist, and teacher to create a highly successful career that lasted over 60 years.

Anni Albers with textile samples in her home in New Haven, Connecticut, ca. 1950

Anni Albers - Work in progress. Experimenting. 1950 - 1962 — Anni Albers – Work in progress. Experimenting. 1950 – 1962

Anni Albers - Two, 1952, linen, cotton, and rayon — Anni Albers – *Two*, 1952, linen, cotton, and rayon
1: *Black-White-Gold I*, 1950. Cotton, jute and metallic ribbon.
2: *Haiku*, 1961, Plain weave alternating metallic and hemp with supplementary wefts of black and white cotton and silver.
3: *Code*, 1962, Photo Offset

Anni Albers - Tikal, 1958, Cotton, 30 x 23 in — Anni Albers – *Tikal*, 1958, Cotton, 30 x 23 in

Anni Albers - Wallhanging, 1926, silk 72 × 48 in. (182.9 × 122 cm) — Anni Albers – *Wall Hanging*, 1926, silk 72 × 48 in. (182.9 × 122 cm)

Bauhaus & experiments with weaving & textiles

When she first started at the Bauhaus, Albers was enrolled by the school in the only course that female students could take at that time. Although she was not particularly interested in the field of weaving, Albers eventually grew to love the craft and everything associated with designing textiles.

She learned how to come up with richly colored and complex abstract compositions through natural and synthetic fibers. Soon, her works started to gain her recognition along the Bauhaus halls, where she quickly became one of the most renowned members of the workshop.

Anni Albers - Wallhanging Camino Real in the Lobby Bar at Camino Real Hotel, 1968 — Anni Albers – Wallhanging *Camino Real* in the Lobby Bar at Camino Real Hotel, 1968, photo: Armando Salas Portugal

Anni Albers - Wallhanging, 1925, silk, cotton, acetate 50 × 38 in. (127 × 96.5 cm) — Anni Albers – *Wall Hanging*, 1925, silk, cotton, acetate 50 × 38 in. (127 × 96.5 cm)

Anni Albers - Wall hanging, 1925, wool and silk, 93 × 373⁄4 in. (236 × 96 cm) — Anni Albers – *Wall hanging*, 1925, wool and silk, 93 × 373⁄4 in. (236 × 96 cm)

Anni Albers - Black White Gray, 1927:1964, cotton and silk 581⁄4 × 473⁄4 in. (147.9 × 121.3 cm) — Anni Albers – *Black White Gray*, 1927/1964, cotton and silk 581⁄4 × 473⁄4 in. (147.9 × 121.3 cm)

Anni Albers - Black White Red, 1926:1964, cotton and silk 69 × 461⁄2 in. (175 × 118 cm) — Anni Albers – *Black White Red*, 1926/1964, cotton and silk 69 × 461⁄2 in. (175 × 118 cm)

Video: Book: On Weaving, 1965

1 min 43 sec

Innovation & recognition

Beyond her integration of abstract modernism into the textiles that she weaved, Albers also introduced new technologies to the weaving shop. Her use of synthetic fibers and cellophane to come up with acoustic panels influenced other manufacturers to create panels in a similar style, which led to groundbreaking innovations in theater design.

Albers achievements became so widespread that in 1949, the Museum of Modern Art exhibited her work¹. This show allowed her to travel to various parts of the world, which further cemented her reputation as the world’s best textile designer.

Anni Albers works in her weaving studio at Black Mountain College in 1937

Anni Albers - Black White Yellow, 1926:1964, silk and rayon 80 × 47 in. (203 × 119 cm) — Anni Albers – *Black White Yellow*, 1926/1964, silk and rayon 80 × 47 in. (203 × 119 cm)

Anni Albers - Wall Hanging, 1926, mercerized cotton, silk, 203,2 x 120,7 cm — Anni Albers – *Wall Hanging*, 1926, mercerized cotton, silk, 203,2 x 120,7 cm

Anni Albers - Monte Alban, 1936, Silk, linen, wool, 146 x 112 cm — Anni Albers – *Monte Alban*, 1936, Silk, linen, wool, 146 x 112 cm

Anni Albers - From the East, 1963, Cotton and plastic, 63.5 x 41.4 cm — Anni Albers – *From the East*, 1963, Cotton and plastic, 63.5 x 41.4 cm

Video: Anni Albers exhibition at Museo Guggenheim Bilbao, 2017

2 min 31 sec

Video: Anni Albers exhibition at Tate Modern, 2018-2019

2 min 52 sec

Legacy

Graphic, bright and timeless are some of the words that come to mind when describing Anni Albers’ work. With assistance from her husband Josef, who was also equally respected in Bauhaus and the rest of the world, the couple created wonderful abstract compositions that are still as impressive today as they were when they were first introduced to the world.

Along with her career, Albers also developed an interest in lithography and screen printing, which allowed her to explore the interplay between patterns and bold color combinations. Her contribution to the field of textiles remains intact today.