On Loss and Absence: Textiles of Mourning and Survival at the Art Institute of Chicago
“Memorial Pendant” created during 1800 in England. Eye miniatures like these were sometimes used as memorials, also known as tear jewelry.
Credit: Elizabeth H. Rosenak, Art Institute of Chicago
In Chicago, threads of memory and grief are woven over time in a new exhibit that started in September 2025. Titled “On Loss and Absence: Textiles of Mourning and Survival,” it examines how people have used art, specifically fabric art, to process grief, honor memories, and heal from personal and cultural trauma.
The exhibit at the Art Institute of Chicago features more than 100 works, spanning from ancient to modern, all centered on the themes of remembrance and mourning. These textiles serve as intriguing vessels for resilience across diverse cultures and times.
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