Artist to reveal new tapestry collection

Acclaimed artist and sculptor Graham Knuttel is known for his unique figurative paintings. The Dubliner will this week unveil his Tapis Collection, a limited edition of vibrant wall and floor tapestries, which are available to buy from his website www.knuttel.com.

His new collection is the product of a collaboration with Irish weavers, the Dixon Carpet Company, which manufactures rugs in Oughterard, Co Galway. The company was previously called V’Soske Joyce.

Tapestries have enjoyed a revival in art circles since 2004. However, Knuttel was ahead of the game having turned his attention to rugs in 2001 when he chose the famous Pinton Tapestry manufacturer in Aubusson in France to weave his patterns.

He is also an established sculptor and is now exploring ceramics as a new medium. His rug collection incorporates Knuttel’s trademark hooded eyes and bold blues and reds, which are a dominant feature of his artwork.

‘‘I’ve been working on this collection of hand tufted rugs for 18 months,” he said. ‘‘The designs depict wildlife, including cats, birds and fish and not people. But the eyes are similar – whether human or animal, the eyes in all my paintings have an edge of ambiguity.” The rugs cost between €9,000 and €12,000 and each one is a limited edition of five.

Knuttel and the Dixon Carpet Company have an impressive clientele. Knuttel collectors include Saathchi & Saatchi London, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, several Hollywood film stars and international banking corporations.

Dixon Carpets has supplied carpets to more than half of the largest yachts in the world, to private aircraft, Irish and American embassies, five-star hotels and to Saudi Arabia’s royal family.

http://archives.tcm.ie/businesspost/2006/09/24/story17538.asp