Since 1996, ATA has sponsored a biennial, juried exhibition known as the American Tapestry Biennial. This juried exhibition highlights the best of international contemporary handwoven tapestry and has showcased hundreds of professional and amateur tapestry artists since its inception. The exhibition will feature not only artists who work within more traditional definitions of tapestry but also those who explore the core principles of the medium in conjunction with alternative processes and techniques.

American Tapestry Biennial 15 will be on view at the Epiphany Center for the Arts in Chicago, IL from August 1, 2025, through September 26, 2025. The jurors for the exhibition include Crystal Gregory, Associate Professor of Fibers at the School of Art and Visual Studies, University of Kentucky, and Poppy Delta Dawn, Assistant Professor of Fibers at the University of Kansas, Lawrence.

A catalog will accompany the exhibition. Artists do not have to be members of the American Tapestry Alliance to submit work.

Awards

Two awards will be given.
First-place Teitelbaum Award for technical proficiency in tapestry weaving will be awarded to an artist selected by the jurors with a monetary award of $300.

Second-place Teitelbaum Award will also be awarded to an artist selected by the jurors with a monetary award of $200.

Application Requirements

Applicants may submit up to three works for consideration. Applicants will need to provide the following materials:

• 2 images of each work submitted (one overall and one detail)
• Title, media, size, and year completed for each work submitted
• Artist statement related to work submitted
• Artist bio
• Website, social media, etc.
• Submit payment of $45 for members, $70 for non-members

Eligibility Criteria

Entry to the American Tapestry Biennial is open to all artists who design and weave their own tapestries either individually or collaboratively (as long as all artists are named). Artists from any location may apply. Please note that artists are responsible for shipping their work to and from the exhibition venue. Members of the American Tapestry Alliance receive a discount for entry, but membership is not required to enter. While ATA accepts work from international artists, shipping to and from the venue (in addition to any customs requirements or fees that are applicable) is the responsibility of the artist. Artists are invited to submit work that incorporates tapestry defined as a handwoven, weft-faced structure using a discontinuous weft utilizing an array of tapestry techniques including but not limited to plain weave, twill weave, rya, soumak, pulled warp, etc. Artists who incorporate additional processes and/or materials are also encouraged to apply as long as the primary medium is tapestry defined as above. Artists are encouraged to submit works of all sizes including small-format tapestries. Tapestries may be woven using traditional or non-traditional materials and can be two or three-dimensional. Artists are encouraged to submit small-format work as the exhibition space offers a variety of options for viewing both large and small-scale work.