Invisible Women and Visible Men – In the Field of Textile and Handicraft Arts

ateljeepiccolo
Jun 15
3 min read

You know that feeling when a man walks into a yoga class and is instantly offered a guided breathing session, a wool blanket, and possibly even a round of applause? A similar phenomenon seems to happen in the world of textile arts. Even though the field is predominantly female, a man's mere participation can spark a visibility fireworks show – as if we were witnessing a full-blown Renaissance revival.

This isn't meant as an accusation, but rather an observation, shared with a wink and a dose of gentle humor. And of course – I wholeheartedly hope more men find their way into the world of textile arts. Based on social media, there’s a small but promising movement in that direction. How great is that?

And to be clear – it’s not that men aren’t doing amazing work. They are! But it’s still a bit ironic that the decades of refined skill and passion many women bring to the craft are often overshadowed by the novelty of male involvement.

Yet, the reverse doesn’t seem to apply. In male-dominated fields – like medicine, science, or technology – women still struggle to gain visibility, even though their contributions have historically been groundbreaking.

💡 Let’s take a moment to remember some remarkable women in science:

Marie Curie – double Nobel laureate, physicist and chemist
Rosalind Franklin – key figure in the discovery of DNA’s structure
Rachel Carson – pioneer of environmental science
Barbara McClintock – geneticist and Nobel Prize winner
Jane Goodall – world-renowned primatologist

Tu Youyou – Chinese pharmacologist and Nobel laureate in medicine

In Finland, textile art is in women's hands – and what hands they are!

Here’s just a glimpse of incredible Finnish women whose work stops you in your tracks, tells a story, and weaves cultural heritage with every stitch:

Riitta Nelimarkka 🔗 nelimarkka.com – colorful, bold, experimental, and playful
Kirsti Rantanen – no official social media / Design Museum link – A storyteller, textures, and large-scale works.
Helena Vaari 🔗 helenavaari.fi – modern textile art meets tradition
Pirjo Kääriäinen 🔗 Aalto University profile / aalto.fi – textile + material + research
Outi Martikainen 🔗 https://outi.in/
Heidi Linsén 🔗 Instagram: @heidilinsenart – tradition, but with a fresh twist
Marita / Ryijystudio 🔗 Instagram: @ryijystudio – precise interpreter of material
Niina Mantsinen 🔗 niinamantsinen.com – Interpreter, abstract
Saija Candelin 🔗 Instagram: @saijacandelin – deep respect for craftsmanship and structure

International voices in textile art worth following:

Corina Müller – 🔗 Instagram: @rosa_rauscher Sculptural textile compositions where sensitivity meets structure
Vanessa Barragão – 🔗 vanessabarragao.com | 🔗 Instagram: @vanessabarragao_work Crocheted marine landscapes with an ecological message
Jessica Grady – 🔗 jessicagrady.co.uk | 🔗 Instagram: @jessicagradyembroidery Explosions of color made from recycled materials
Julia Crook – 🔗 Instagram: @juliacrooktextiles Intricately layered textile surfaces

And to ensure we celebrate all talented artists...

While the spotlight often shines brightest on women in this field (deservedly so!), it’s also wonderful to acknowledge some male textile artists who are doing extraordinary, imaginative work. It’s inspiring to see more men stepping into the world of textile art.

David Nott – 🔗 Instagram: @davidnotttextiles Undoubtedly one of today’s most interesting tufting artists
Caleb Knight – 🔗 calebknightart.com Bold and playful tufted works where tradition meets contemporary rhythm

It’s high time we challenge the fact that women’s work often needs ten times more effort to get noticed, even though it carries ten times the history, skill, and heart.

"Art knows no gender – but the world, unfortunately, often does." — Paula Pasanen, Ateljee Piccolo

But hey, social media is brimming with incredibly inspiring textile artists. Head over there for a dose of creative joy, discover amazing work, and share the love for handmade art. 💫