Knuttel’s Tapestries
For over 500 years, the master craftsmen of Aubusson have been creating world-class tapestries adorning European palaces and prestigious collections. Today, these intricate works are displayed in modern spaces like galleries and boardrooms. Graham Knuttel was drawn to the medium's artistic potential and travelled to France to collaborate with the renowned Pinton tapestry manufacturer. With support from the French Embassy and the Ministry of Visual Arts, Knuttel embraced this centuries-old technique finding it a perfect match for his bold use of colour and shape.
The Pinton family who have been in the tapestry business for nearly five centuries have produced works for the Vatican, the Sultan of Brunei and even the largest tapestry in history now hanging in Coventry Cathedral. Knuttel worked closely with Pinton’s skilled craftspeople - dyers, weavers and cartoonists - through every stage of the process which takes a month or more to weave just a square yard of tapestry. The final pieces traditionally bear the signatures of both the artist and the manufacturer highlighting their close collaboration.
Knuttel’s work brought a renewed excitement to the tapestry world. His first five pieces were unveiled in a civic ceremony in Aubusson, hosted by the Prefect of Limoges and attended by French dignitaries marking a significant new chapter in his career and a milestone for Irish art in Europe.
“My strong use of colour tone and shape have proved to be a perfect match with this beautiful process”
Paradise and true disguise
an appraisal
Graham Knuttel's work seems perfectly suited for tapestry and his paintings have been carefully transformed into woven art retaining all the vivid imagery meaning and colour of the originals. Tapestry as a medium thrives on strong stories and Knuttel's generous artistry offers narratives that invite personal interpretation. His distinctive use of line colour and composition creates figures that feel like moments captured in time hinting at deeper stories behind them.
Knuttel's simple yet geometric figures echo Cézanne's belief that “the culmination of all art is the figure”. The vibrant colours and complex imagery bring these scenes to life, filled with multiple layers of meaning. These snapshots extend beyond their frames, taking on a mythical quality, suggesting a mysterious world where appearances can't always be trusted.
In Aubusson, we celebrate this rich revival of tapestry reminiscent of the great 20th-century artists like Picasso and Dali who once embraced the medium. Knuttel's extraordinary talent has breathed new life into this noble French tradition marking a great moment for tapestry.
Mme. Michele Giffault, Director of the Museum of Tapestry, Aubusson, France.
Tapestry Bird of Paradise 71” x 71”
Tapestry Wildlife 71” x 53”
Tapestry A girl’s best friend 71” x 57”
Tapestry Still life 71” x 65”
Tapestry Fish 71” x 94”