18 April – 24 August 2025 | TextielMuseum Tilburg, Het Noordbrabants Museum & Provincial Government Building of North Brabant, ’s-Hertogenbosch
This spring, the monumental works of Magdalena Abakanowicz (1930–2017) will be on display at three locations across North Brabant in an extensive exhibition. Under the title Groots, Groter, Grootst – Magdalena Abakanowicz, the TextielMuseum in Tilburg, Het Noordbrabants Museum, and the Provincial Government Building in ’s-Hertogenbosch present a compelling triptych dedicated to the oeuvre of this influential artist. The exhibition Everything is made of fiber forms the centerpiece of this collaboration.
Abakanowicz is internationally recognized as one of the most innovative artists of the twentieth century. She gained acclaim for her monumental sculptures made from textiles and natural fibers, often composed of human figures or organic forms. Her Abakans—woven works that broke free from the wall to take on a spatial dimension—ushered in a completely new approach to textile art. Abakanowicz is widely considered a pioneer of installation art.
At the TextielMuseum, the focus is on her creative process. Visitors can explore her methods through sketches, materials, and film footage, partly recorded in her original studio, home, and workshop in Warsaw. Former collaborators share insights into her working methods and artistic vision.
Het Noordbrabants Museum explores the themes in her work: the relationship between the individual and the collective, corporeality, and traces of human presence. Her sculptures provoke reflection on identity, vulnerability, and collective memory—topics that remain highly relevant today.
A special highlight of the triptych is the presentation of the monumental work Bois le Duc (1970–1971) in the Provincial Government Building of North Brabant. This work consists of 19 woven panels, each over seven meters tall and 22 meters wide, specially created for the grand hall designed by architect Hugh Maaskant. Normally closed to the public, the space will be accessible during the exhibition through special programs, including guided tours, film screenings, and an international symposium.
The TextielMuseum collaborated on this exhibition with guest curator Marta Kowalewska, chair of the advisory board of The Marta Magdalena Abakanowicz-Kosmowska and Jan Kosmowski Foundation and an expert on Abakanowicz’s oeuvre.
The exhibition Magdalena Abakanowicz – Everything is made of fiber was organized in collaboration with the Marta Magdalena Abakanowicz Kosmowska and Jan Kosmowski Foundation, Warsaw, Poland.
More information about the exhibition and related public activities can be found at www.grootsinbrabant.nl.
