Visionary textile artist and Merida Artistic Director, Sylvie Johnson’s new Yarn Unveiled exhibition is now open at Merida’s NYC Gallery, showcasing 36 pieces meticulously crafted and inspired by the artistry of the 1920s. Merida produces beautiful artisanal textiles—placing an emphasis on slow design and sustainability—in their Massachusetts mill.
Yarn Unveiled features hand-dyed yarns, intricate stitching, and experimental collage techniques that challenge the boundaries of modern textile design. From conception to completion, pieces took up up to three years to make. “Beauty is easy. It’s in the layers,” says Johnson, from Paris, France, who began working in the textile industry some 22 years ago. “It’s about how to make the yarns shine and speak.”
In this exhibit, the gallery’s lighting, as well as play on lights in the fabric, work together. For example, some of Johnson’s rugs are created with mouliné, a wool yarn that has a small cotton fiber running through it, that resists dye, creating a kind of lightning streak aspect.
In 2017, Merida CEO Catherine Connolly met with Johnson, captivated by her work. An idea began to percolate. “What if we created textiles as art? What if we pushed ourselves into a world that demanded growth, practice, evolution, and collaboration, leveraging our heritage and talent?” asks Connolly. She found a kindred spirit in Johnson. The two had a strong connection and decided to work together. In 2018, Johnson then became Merida’s Artistic Director.
Adding to the collection’s allure, the accompanying photography was staged at Galerie 54 and the Fondation Le Corbusier in Paris. The latter is an exceptional honor, as only a select few are granted the privilege of shooting at this iconic location.
The exhibition will remain up through the remainder of the year.