From May 18 to July 31, 2011, the Bard Graduate Center: Decorative Arts, Design History, Material Culture (BGC) in New York presents Knoll Textiles, 1945-2010, the first comprehensive exhibition devoted to a leading producer of modern textile design. The exhibition and its accompanying catalogue bring to light the individuals and ideas that helped shape the company through the years while recognizing the role of modern textiles in design.
In addition, the event displays one-of-a-kind items. For example, key works from Knoll’s innovative handwoven collection of the 1950s were found in boxes of scraps preserved for more than 50 years in the attic of a former Knoll employee. What’s more, large samples dating to 1948, the second year of production for Knoll Textiles, languished in storage for decades. The curatorial team also has discovered private collections of furniture with its original upholstery.
