Olga de Amaral Colombian, b. 1932

Born in Bogotá, Colombia, Olga de Amaral studied fabric design at the prestigious Cranbrook Academy in Michigan. Her in-depth knowledge of textiles and weaving techniques from around the world provided a foundation for her complex artistic practice that transcends fixed genres and artistic disciplines.

At age 22, with a degree in architectural design, Olga de Amaral moved from Bogotá to the United States where she studied fiber art at the Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan. She returned to Colombia in 1955, and in 1956 she and her husband, Jim Amaral, opened a workshop of hand-woven textiles.

Her richly textured pieces evoke the varied natural landscapes of Colombia as well as ancient pre-Columbian gold artifacts. Through a meticulous layering of textured linen (often coated with paint and gold leaf), she creates intricate geometric compositions reminiscent of the architecture and roofs of Columbia.

These sculptural weavings, or “woven walls”, mark her out as one of the most important living visual Columbian artists.