Exhibition Review: Louise Lemieux Bérubé: Around the World with 80 Textile Artists

The Musée des métiers d’art du Québec (MUMAQ) hosted a remarkable exhibition this winter: “Louise Lemieux Bérubé: Around the World with 80 Textile Artists,” showing a collection by the esteemed Québécoise textile artist. This exhibit was not merely a display of technical prowess by the eighty-three-year-old artist; it served as a vibrant testament to a lifetime of dedication to textiles and weaving and as a celebration of a global tapestry of fellow textile artists.

The show exhibited a compelling series of works, many of which are of a shared format: a meticulously crafted 6-by-6-inch woven pocket with a tall back panel rising about another 8 inches. Visitors were invited to put personal messages to the artist into the pockets. The pocket faces are Jacquard-woven, black-and-white portraits. The portraits are woven on a natural flax (or similar) warp, with the deliberate flourish of warp ends left dangling above and below each portrait, creating a dynamic and energetic framing element. Rising behind each portrait is a colorful piece-specific woven imagery or patterned background, which adds a personalized layer of visual complexity to each piece.

Another format of works in the exhibit included woven portraits measuring  about 12-by-12 inches, also executed in flax weaving with a classic black-and-white definition.

All of the pieces shown in the exhibit are woven homages to individuals who shaped Lemieux Bérubé’s artistic journey and continue to inspire her path in the world of textiles. The artists featured in the portraits are from all over the world and range in age from young to old. By selecting this diverse group of artists, Lemieux Bérubé builds bridges between generations and cultures. She invites us to reflect on the importance of the transmission of knowledge and on the ways in which textile traditions can be reinvented and adapted to contemporary cultures. 

Lemieux Bérubé’s masterful command of Jacquard weaving allows her to translate images with intricate detail. Her decision to weave with natural fibers on a computer-assisted Jacquard loom elicits conversation about the conventional notions of manual craftsmanship. Her use of color is both subtle (on the portrait) and striking (on the background). The hand, the machine, the natural fiber, and the colors and patterns all convey the artist’s respect for heritage and her emotion and passion for art.

A visitor to the exhibit might suppose that Lemieux Bérubé references the universal weaving metaphors of our culture at large: human relationships move beyond simple threads, intricately layering connections through shared experiences and individual expressions. Relationships push boundaries by weaving together diverse emotional landscapes, from the delicate warp of affection to the bold weft of conflict. Relationships create complex tapestries where tradition meets innovation in the ever-evolving patterns of connection and separation.

In “Around the World with 80 Textile Artists,” Louise Lemieux Bérubé invites us to question our relationship to art, craftsmanship, and culture. She shows us how textile art can be a powerful vector of emotions, memories, and meanings.

To learn more, visit MUMAQ online:

Marcelo Martins is a textile artist and educator specializing in fiber arts, spinning, and knitting techniques. He leads workshops at institutions like the Montreal Contemporary Textile Center and exhibits at major fiber festivals. His work, featured in Fibre magazine, explores textile heritage and innovation. Learn more at Makeloo.com. Martins has been a member of TSA since 2025.