Wen Redmond 2020, "Crown Point" (detail)

Mandatory Color Online Exhibition

Mandatory Color logo

Museum of Texas Tech University
3301 4th Street
Lubbock, TX 79415
On exhibit through December 19, 2020


View our online panel discussion from November 12, 2020

During a crisis, makers of all skill sets find comfort in making while confronting personal, political, or social issues head-on. Mandatory Color is a fiber art exhibition that examines the use of color or, in some cases, the lack of color during the COVID-19 pandemic. Color in the artwork exhibits positive and negative emotional responses to the worldwide quarantine and social distancing. In some instances, chromatic hues reveal the anxiety the pandemic creates, while subtle use of colors and values explores a slower pace and time for self-reflection.

Mandatory Color was the most challenging exhibition that I have juried to date. There were 450 entries from Surface Design Association members across the globe, all executing quality craftsmanship and design in two-dimensional, three-dimensional, and installation formats. The varied techniques include applique, basketry, collage, crochet, dyeing, embroidery, quilting, screen printing, and weaving, showcasing the endless possibilities in fiber arts and how prolifically we are creating.

Amie Adelman, Exhibition Juror
Professor in the College of Visual Arts and Design at the University of North Texas in Denton


Award Winners


Exhibition Gallery

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