Needlework Paintings

A set of three elegant silk paintings by the Swedish house Ennisance, creator of bespoke luxury wallcoverings. Entitled The Starling in its Winter Coat each piece is handpainted in ...

Certified Kimono Meister work / Certificate of Authenticity included. One-of-a-kind Japanese textile art made from vintage kimono fabrics. Sustainable artwork for modern interiors, ...

Certified Kimono Meister work / Certificate of Authenticity included. One-of-a-kind Japanese textile art made from vintage obi fabrics. Sustainable...

Certified Kimono Meister work / Certificate of Authenticity included. One-of-a-kind Japanese textile art made from vintage kimono fabrics. Sustainable artwork for modern interiors, ...

Certified Kimono Meister work / Certificate of Authenticity included. One-of-a-kind Japanese textile art made from vintage kimono fabrics. Sustainable artwork for modern interiors, ...

Certified Kimono Meister work / Certificate of Authenticity included. One-of-a-kind Japanese textile art made from vintage kimono fabrics. Sustainable artwork for modern interiors, ...

Certified Kimono Meister work / Certificate of Authenticity included. One-of-a-kind Japanese textile art made from vintage kimono fabrics. Sustainable artwork for modern interiors, ...

Certified Kimono Meister work / Certificate of Authenticity included. One-of-a-kind Japanese textile art made from vintage kimono fabrics. Sustainable artwork for modern interiors, ...

Certified Kimono Meister work / Certificate of Authenticity included One-of-a-kind Japanese textile art made from vintage obi fabrics. Sustainable ...

Certified Kimono Meister work / Certificate of Authenticity included. One-of-a-kind Japanese textile art made from vintage obi fabrics. Sustainable...

Certified Kimono Meister work / Certificate of Authenticity included. One-of-a-kind Japanese textile art made from vintage obi fabrics. Sustainable artwork for modern interiors, collectors, boutique hotels, and lovers of Japanese aesthetics. [Size] 73 x 53 x 5 cm [Materials] Silk for the outside layer, wooden frame for the under layer, and gold leaf [Story behind the work] This is the second version of "Cranes: Kintsugi," created from the same kimono using a different section of the textile. Each artwork is handmade, and no two pieces are identical. The frame for this work is made of paulownia wood taken from antique Kiritansu, which are traditional chests of drawers for kimonos. I use antique kiritansu that can no longer be used as furniture to create the basis and frames for my works. It adds an even more authentic atmosphere of the traditional wabi-sabi spirit. Can you feel it? The piece uses the concept of kintsugi. It unites the pieces of antique kimono back together with golden leaf to give it a second wind as an artwork. [Period and Story] The kimono used in this piece was originally crafted during the late Showa period, around the 1960s to 1980s. [Explanation and meaning of pattern and colors] The Japanese saying goes, "A crane lives a thousand years, a tortoise lives ten thousand years," making cranes a symbol of longevity. Cranes are also known for staying with the same partner for their entire lives, which is why they are often used at weddings and other celebrations to symbolize marital bliss and the desire for harmony between husband and wife. On this particular piece, cranes are flying through snow woven on the fabric, as if they are overcoming all disasters to get to their beloved ones. The color scarlet, or deeply dyed red, used for most of the cranes here, has long been associated with the meaning of warding off evil. It is believed to possess the power to repel malevolent forces and invite good fortune. During the Heian period, from 794 to 1185, scarlet was reserved for sacred buildings and ceremonial objects that held great significance. Ordinary people were prohibited from wearing scarlet red kimonos, which made it a highly special color. [Characteristics of the fabric] Cranes, going up and down, are generously decorated by kimpaku here. Kimpaku refers to gold leaf or foil in Japanese. Gold leaf is a traditional material used in various aspects of Japanese culture, including art, crafts, and even in culinary applications. In traditional Japanese art, gold leaf is often applied to religious objects, sculptures, paintings, and lacquerware to create a luxurious and decorative effect. The use of gold leaf in art dates back centuries and is associated with a sense of wealth, prestige, and the divine. Traditional kimpaku technique is used here to make an accent decoration in the middle. [About the frame] This artwork frame is crafted from paulownia wood, a uniquely Japanese material closely tied to the world of kimonos, and it serves to convey the refined beauty of Japanese nature. Paulownia wood is known as the lightest wood in Japan, praised for its natural luster, resistance to moisture, and resilience against cracking. Since ancient times, it has been used in crafting furniture, chests, and musical instruments. Paulownia wood is closely linked to kimono culture. During the Edo period, it became customary to store cherished kimonos in paulownia chests...

Certified Kimono Meister work / Certificate of Authenticity included. One-of-a-kind Japanese textile art made from vintage obi fabrics. Sustainable...

Certified Kimono Meister work / Certificate of Authenticity included. One-of-a-kind Japanese textile art made from vintage obi fabrics. Sustainable artwork for modern interiors, col...

Certified Kimono Meister work / Certificate of Authenticity included. One-of-a-kind Japanese textile art made from vintage obi fabrics. Sustainable...

Certified Kimono Meister work / Certificate of Authenticity included. One-of-a-kind Japanese textile art made from vintage obi fabrics. Sustainable artwork for modern interiors, collectors, boutique hotels, and lovers of Japanese aesthetics. [Story behind the work] The art piece uses two sides - front and reverse - of the same kimono, to show beautiful sea surrounding Japan, in hues and in late sunset, as a timelapse. The frame for this work is made of paulownia wood taken from antique Kiritansu - chest-of-drawers for kimono. I use antique kiritansu that can’t be used as furniture anymore to create basis and frames for my works. It adds them even more authentic atmosphere of traditional wabisabi spirit. Can you feel it? [Period / Story] The kimono used in this piece was originally crafted during the late Showa period (1960-80ies). [Explanation and meaning of pattern and colors] Sea waves, depicted in two color variations here, are a symbol of transience and Impermanence in Japanese culture. The ebb and flow of the tides, the ever-changing currents, and the relentless motion of the waves serve as reminders of the fleeting nature of life. This artwork featuring the sea convey themes of impermanence, reminding viewers to cherish the present moment and appreciate the beauty of life's fleeting moments. The theme of impermanence is strengthen by two colors of the sea - the lighter in early hues and the darker when the sun is just about to set in the sea. [About the frame] This artwork frame is crafted from paulownia wood, a uniquely Japanese material closely tied to the world of kimonos, and it serves to convey the refined beauty of Japanese nature. Paulownia wood is known as the lightest wood in Japan, prased for its natural luster, resistance to moisture, and resilience against cracking. Since ancient times, it has been used in crafting furniture, chests, and musical instruments. Paulownia wood is closely linked to kimono culture. During the Edo period (17th cent.~), it became customary to store cherished kimonos in paulownia chests...

Certified Kimono Meister work / Certificate of Authenticity included. One-of-a-kind Japanese textile art made from vintage obi fabrics. Sustainable...

Silk embroidery on silk canvas, 2007. Mike Berg. CV. (b. 1956 Portland, Oregon USA). Lives and works in Istanbul, Turkey and New York, NY. Education. 1971 BA University of Washington, Seattle 1972 BFA, Fort Wright College, Spokane, WA. 1972 Resident, Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, MA. Solo exhibitions. 2016 upcoming solo September show: The Stremmel Gallery, Reno, Nevada 2015 Kocaman Kafes, at Galeri Nev, Istanbul, Turkey. 2013-14 Recent Textiles, Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego. 2013 Mike Berg: Taking Chances, Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego 2012 Simple Geometry, Galeri Nev, Istanbul, Turkey. 2012 Believing in Impossible Things, Ankara, Turkey 2011 5/3 Insane, PGArtSpace, Istanbul, Turkey. 2010 Heavy Metal, Galeri Nev, İstanbul, Turkey. 2008 The Aftermath of Sunny Days, Galeri Nev, İstanbul, Turkey. 2006 Run My Hand Around The Font, Center for Contemporary Art, Seattle, WA You Can’t Say It That Way Anymore, Galeri Nev, İstanbul, Turkey. 2005 Galleons And Towers, Kadir Has Üniversitesi, İstanbul, Turkey. 2004 Mistaking Street Lamps for Planets, Lorinda Knight Gallery, Spokane, WA 2003 Mike Berg at the Hagia Sofia Museum, İstanbul, Turkey. Bronze Age, Galeri Nev, İstanbul, Turkey 2001 Florence DeVoldere Salon, Paris, France. 2000 Little House of Our Desire, Dulcinea, İstanbul, Turkey What Days Are For, Sling Shot Gallery, New York, NY. What Days Are For, Heriard/Cimino Gallery, New Orleans, LA. 1999 Now It Goes Smoothly, Gina Fiore Salon of Fine Arts, Chelsea Hotel, New York, NY Now It Goes Smoothly, Eastern Washington University, Cheney, WA. 1998 A Family of Stories, Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, Boulder, CO 1997 A Haven of Serenity and Unreachable, Rule Gallery, Denver, CO. Patterns in Time, Maria Henle Studio, St. Croix, USVI. 1995 Visions Fugitives, Elaine Kaufman Cultural Center, New York, NY A History of Backward Glances, Lee Arthur Studio, New York, NY. 1993 Lee Arthur Studio, New York, NY 1991 Sharon Truax Gallery, Venice, CA 1990 McGrath Gallery, Los Angeles, CA. 1989 Earl McGrath Gallery, Los Angeles, CA 56 Bleecker Gallery, New York, NY. 1988 Mike Berg in the Tin Room, 56 Bleecker Gallery, New York, NY 1987 Inaugural Exhibition, The Queens Museum, New York, NY. The Donald Wren Gallery, New York, NY. Interior/Exterior: Architectural Fantasies, Untitled, The Queens Museum, New York, NY 1986 Guid'Arte Gallery, Rome, Italy. 1985 Louisiana State University, School of Art Gallery, Baton Rouge 1984 Noel Butcher Gallery, Philadelphia, PA. -1- Group exhibitions: 2014 3rd Mardin Bienal, Mitolojiler, Turkey. 2014 Path of Sculptures That Lead to Miro, Baksi Museum, Bayburt, Turkey 2010 Delirium: Wave Two, Illiterate Media, Denver, CO. Türbülans, Galeri Nev, İstanbul, Turkey. 2009 Delirium: Wave One, Illiterate Media, Denver, CO 2006 The El Paseo Exhibition, Palm Desert, CA. New Visions, The Harrison Gallery, Williamstown, MA 2002 Group Exhibition, Galeri Nev, İstanbul. Turkey. After 10 Years, Maria Henle Gallery, St. Croix, USA 2001 Layers, Anita Friedman Fine Arts, New York, NY. 1998 LA Current, Armand Hammer Museum, Los Angeles, CA 1997 Collaboration, Montgomery Gallery, Pomona College, CA 1996 Red, Rule Galley, Denver, CO. Mike Berg, Stephane Herbelin, and Andre Raffin...

This exquisite embroidered painting was created in the 1770's. The painting depicts a huntress and her dog in the countryside. We may iidentify the huntress as the goddess Diana who ...

Precious embroideries made entirely of wool, with a dense and detailed weave that gives depth and relief to the subjects. Description of subjects: Musical Still Life: A classical co...

This dynamic mixed-media by James Coignard, exemplifies the artist’s innovative approach to abstraction. A perfect fusion of color aquatint, etching, carborundum, and collage, the pi...

Certified Kimono Meister work / Certificate of Authenticity included. One-of-a-kind Japanese textile art made from vintage obi fabrics. Sustainable artwork for modern interiors, collectors, boutique hotels, and lovers of Japanese aesthetics. [Story behind the work] This work uses a vintage obi dated around 1980ies, with a feather motif, and arranges it so that it looks like a vase. Antique obi, just as it is a broken vase, is united back again with black obijime - a string used to tie up obi when it’s worn. Framed in kiritansu (antique chest) paulownia wood. It is elegantly framed with paulownia wood originally used for kimono chest-of-drawers, and is filled with storytelling and sense of luxury. I used pieces of kimono that could no longer be used as clothing and kiritansu chest-of-drawers that would normally be discarded to create the ultimate upcycled piece. [Explanation and meaning of pattern and colors] Feathers hold various meanings and symbolism in Japanese traditional culture, often reflecting themes of spirituality, symbolism, and folklore. Here are some of the meanings associated with feathers in Japanese tradition: ・Divine Protection: Feathers are often seen as symbols of divine protection and spiritual guidance. Feathers, especially those from birds, are considered to be imbued with the protective energy, offering spiritual guardianship and safeguarding against negative forces. ・Connection to the Spirit World: Feathers are sometimes associated with the spirit world and the realm of the divine. In folklore and mythology, feathers are depicted as messengers between the earthly realm and the celestial realms. ・Symbol of Beauty and Elegance: Feathers are admired for their natural beauty, grace, and elegance. In traditional Japanese arts such as Noh theater, Kabuki, and dance performances like Kagura, actors and performers often use feathered costumes or accessories to enhance their appearance and convey a sense of refinement and sophistication. ・Sign of Good Luck and Prosperity: In Japanese folklore, certain birds like cranes and pheasants are considered symbols of good fortune, longevity, and prosperity. Feathers from these birds are often depicted in art and craftwork as auspicious symbols believed to bring blessings and positive energy to the bearer. [About the frame] Kiritansu - chest-of-drawers for kimono, is traditionally made from paulownia wood, a uniquely Japanese material closely tied to the world of kimonos. Paulownia wood is known as the lightest wood in Japan, prased for its natural luster, resistance to moisture, and resilience against cracking. Since ancient times, it has been used in crafting furniture, chests, and musical instruments. During the Edo period, it became customary to store cherished kimonos in paulownia chests...