Key Takeaways
- Brent Wadden’s woven art merges hand-woven techniques with geometric abstraction.
- His work challenges the divide between craft traditions and modernist painting.
- Each piece combines Bauhaus principles with folk art’s tactile history.
- Large-scale compositions use woven patterns to create hard-edge visual impact.
- Texture and color in his work reflect both historical craft and contemporary art dialogues.
Brent Wadden creates abstract woven works that merge painting, design, craft, and folk art. By mounting his handwoven textiles on canvas, he blurs the boundaries between craft and painting. His use of repetition through warp and weft welcomes imperfections and variations, highlighting subtle disruptions in line, color, and form.
From Nova Scotia to Berlin: A Journey Through Material and Meaning
Born in 1979 in Nova Scotia, Wadden studied painting at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design under conceptual artist Gerald Ferguson. Although originally trained as a painter, his practice took a significant turn in 2010 after encountering an exhibition of Moroccan rugs in Ireland. Enthralled by the psychedelic patterns and irregularities of the textiles, he was inspired to explore weaving as a primary medium.
Living in Berlin at the time, Wadden learned the basics of weaving from artist Travis Meinolf, using a laser-cut backstrap loom. What began as a studio experiment soon evolved into his full-time practice. By 2019, weaving had completely overtaken his artistic output.
Brent Wadden: Weaving Modernism into the Threads of Craft
Canadian artist Brent Wadden is known for his bold, handwoven artworks that blur the boundaries between traditional craft and contemporary painting. Drawing inspiration from a wide range of influences—from Bauhaus textiles to Minimalism, Folk Art, and the Gee’s Bend quilting tradition—Wadden creates large-scale geometric compositions that defy categorization.
Though his works are often mistaken for paintings at first glance, they are meticulously crafted from yarns woven by hand and stretched over canvas. In doing so, Wadden challenges conventional definitions of medium and material, inserting textile practices into the discourse of modernist abstraction. The tactile texture and slight irregularities of his pieces emphasize their human touch, giving them a warmth and imperfection that stands apart from the precision of hard-edge painting.
The Language of Line, Color, and Rhythm
Wadden’s creative process is rooted in repetition, rhythm, and instinct. He weaves smaller panels individually, assembling them into large compositions where the seams and subtle misalignments become essential features. Rather than correct or hide these "imperfections," he embraces them, allowing random shifts in thread, color, and tension to shape the final image. The interplay of warp and weft introduces disruptions in linearity, creating a dynamic visual rhythm akin to visual jazz.
These “mistakes” are not flaws—they are moments of spontaneity, surprises that emerge organically through the act of making. Wadden describes this experience as a “series of aesthetic mysteries” that only fully reveal themselves when the work is stretched and installed.
Material Matters: Second-Hand Threads and Happy Accidents
Wadden’s commitment to materiality is evident in his choice of yarns—often wool, cotton, or acrylic—sourced second-hand from online marketplaces like eBay, Craigslist, and Facebook. Working with reclaimed fibers introduces inherent limitations: colors may run out, textures may vary, and threads may be slightly damaged. But for Wadden, these constraints become opportunities for creative discovery. Each deviation in color or line carries the memory of its previous use, adding an unspoken history to the artwork.
Exhibitions and Critical Recognition
Wadden’s work has been widely exhibited across North America and Europe. His first solo museum show, The Grey Area, was held at the Art Gallery of Alberta in 2016. He has participated in numerous group exhibitions including Abstract America Today at Saatchi Gallery in London, Geometry of Knowing in Vancouver, and Stitch at the Beeler Gallery in Ohio.
His pieces resonate with audiences because they function on multiple levels: as paintings, as objects of craft, and as conceptual reflections on process and labor. By merging modernist abstraction with traditional weaving, Wadden builds a dialogue between past and present, between the machine-made and the handmade.
Solo Exhibitions
2025
Almine Rech, Turenne, Paris, France (upcoming)
2022
René, Almine Rech, Turenne, Paris, France
2019
Banks / Bars, Almine Rech, Brussels, Belgium
2018
Sympathetic Resonance, Pace Gallery, London, UK
Two Scores, Contemporary Art Gallery, Vancouver, Canada
2017
zerodayolds, Peres Projects, Berlin, Germany
Solo Presentation, Mitchell-Innes & Nash, New York, NY, USA
PKM Gallery, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
2016
Soft Peace, Almine Rech, Paris, France
Vancouver Special: Ambivalent Pleasures, Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver, Canada
2015
How Long is Now, Pace Gallery, London, UK
Brent Wadden, Mitchell-Innes & Nash, New York, NY, USA
2014
Pit Poney, Peres Projects, Berlin, Germany
The Decline, Almine Rech, Brussels, Belgium
2013
Alignments, Sorry We’re Closed, Brussels, Belgium
About Time, Peres Projects, Berlin, Germany
2012
Shoupie, Erin Stump Projects, Toronto, Canada
2011
Master of None, Kinderhook & Caracas, Berlin, Germany
Silent Chimes, A1C Gallery, St. John’s, Canada
2009
Moodz, Sid Lee Collective, Amsterdam, Netherlands
2007
Heavy Light Off White, Berlin Art Scouts, Berlin, Germany
2003
ODONDM, Anna Leonowens Gallery, Halifax, Canada
Selected Group Exhibitions
2023
X PINK 101, X Museum, Beijing, China
2019
Mingei Now, Sokyo Gallery, Kyoto, Japan
Road to the Unconscious, Peres Projects, Berlin, Germany
2018
Letain Thurman Wadden, McNamara Art Projects, Hong Kong
Sutures, Marc Straus Gallery, New York, NY, USA
2017
Vancouver Special: Ambivalent Pleasures, Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver, Canada
High Anxiety: New Acquisitions, Rubell Family Collection, Miami, FL, USA
My Abstract World, ME Collectors Room, Berlin, Germany
Stitch, Beeler Gallery, Columbus College of Art and Design, Columbus, OH, USA
2016
My Abstract World, ME Collectors Room, Berlin, Germany
The Blur In Between, Art Gallery of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
Making & Unmaking, curated by Duro Olowu, Camden Arts Centre, London, UK
2015
White Columns Benefit Exhibition + Auction, New York, NY, USA
Dans un intérieur: Furniture, Wall Works and Artist Textiles, Almine Rech, Brussels, Belgium
Geometry of Knowing – Part 2, Audain Gallery, Vancouver, Canada
Geometry of Knowing – Part 3, SFU Gallery, Vancouver, Canada
2014
Small Rome, Frutta, Rome, Italy
With Small Words, Kunsthalle Exnergasse, Vienna, Austria
Grids, Gillmeier Rech, Berlin, Germany
Dans un Intérieur, Almine Rech, Paris, France
Be Mysterious, Walter Phillips Gallery, Banff, Canada
Group Spirit, Peres Projects, Berlin, Germany
Abstract America Today, Saatchi Gallery, London, UK
Mingei: Are You Here?, Pace Gallery, New York, NY, USA
Frauen, die Ausstellung, Autocenter, Berlin, Germany
2013
D, ZweiDrei Raum, Berlin, Germany
In the Studio, Kunsthalle Athena, Athens, Greece
GRAY School (1), UNIT/PITT, Vancouver, Canada
INDEPENDENT, with Peres Projects, New York, NY, USA
2012
NADA Miami Beach, with Peres Projects, Miami, FL, USA
Artissima 19, with Peres Projects, Turin, Italy
Art Toronto, with Erin Stump Projects, Toronto, Canada
FIAC, with Peres Projects, Paris, France
One Day at a Time, Peres Projects, Berlin, Germany
2011
The Show Box, Wide View Studio, Amsterdam, Netherlands
The Genesis, S&yM, Berlin, Germany
Metrospective 1.0, Program, Berlin, Germany
Print on the Nose, Swop Art, Stockholm, Sweden
2010
Young Turks, Context Gallery, Derry, Ireland
Feather Throat, Grimmuseum, Berlin, Germany
Cronies, Home Work, Berlin, Germany
Who Cares, Redux, Apartment, Berlin, Germany
Dump Art, Harzerstraße 95, Berlin, Germany
Straight to the Unknown, The Forgotten Bar Project, Berlin, Germany
2009
HÜTTENDONG, After the Butcher, Berlin, Germany
Less is More, The Forgotten Bar Project, Berlin, Germany
Prismatak, Domy Books, Houston, TX, USA
Art Trek, Mekanik Strip, Antwerp, Belgium
The Joyful Bewilderment, Here Gallery, Bristol, UK
2008
ALLES MUSS RAUS, Bongout, Berlin, Germany
DER AUTORITÄT, Kunstverein Arnsberg, Germany
Raking Leaves in the Wind, Create Berlin, Berlin, Germany
This Place is Foreign, Mad Vicky’s Tea Gallery, Paris, France
Fifty Fifty, RDF Gallerie, Nice, France
Mollusk Kollektiv, Bongout, Berlin, Germany
Radar Eyes: A Survey of Hallucinogenic Printmaking, Co-Prosperity Sphere, Chicago, IL, USA
Illustrative 2008, Zurich, Switzerland
The Joyful Bewilderment, Rough Trade East, London, UK
2007
Staring Therapy, 1026, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Streams, Torrents, Lakes..., Program, Berlin, Germany
WYSIWTYG #1, Schauraum, Berlin, Germany
I See the Face I See the Light, The Whole Gallery, Baltimore, MD, USA
Ballpoint Pen Show, Cinders Gallery, New York, NY, USA
2006
Rio, Artnews Projects, Berlin, Germany
Sight Unseen: Recent Acquisitions, Saint Mary’s University Art Gallery, Halifax, Canada
Fuck Death Foundation, Gallery Deluxe Gallery, Halifax, Canada
Maximum Warriors, Yes, Portland, OR, USA
Secret West Kreuzberg, Berlin, Germany
Sleepover Psychedelia, Ka-Pok, Hong Kong
2005
Sincerity Overdrive, Stride Gallery, Calgary, Canada
Stay Warm, Atelierfrankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
Team Willow Art Factory, Gallery Deluxe Gallery, Halifax, Canada
2004
Reichertz, Wadden, Wiebe, Sir Wilfred Grenfell College Art Gallery, Newfoundland, Canada
The Infinite Fill Group Show, Foxy Productions, New York, NY, USA
National Biennale of Contemporary Sculpture, Trois-Rivières, Canada
2003
Razzle Dazzle, Eyelevel Gallery, Halifax, Canada
Is This a Mirage?, Anna Leonowens Gallery, Halifax, Canada
We Were Thinking, Anna Leonowens Gallery, Halifax, Canada
Beyond the Loom: Evolving Techniques and Future Directions
Now based in Vancouver, Wadden continues to expand his textile vocabulary. He’s begun working with unconventional materials like wicker and rattan, and experimenting with tufting machines to push the boundaries of what woven surfaces can achieve. Despite his growing recognition and evolving practice, Wadden remains grounded in a philosophy of honest, hands-on creation.
“Art is something I’m incredibly grateful to make every day,” he says. “And I believe the world would be a much better place if everyone had the time, energy, and resources to be creative in some way.”
Through every thread and junction, Brent Wadden weaves more than just fabric—he weaves a narrative of renewal, resilience, and reinvention.
FAQ
What are Brent Wadden's geometric abstract woven paintings?
Brent Wadden creates geometric abstract woven paintings. He combines traditional weaving with modern art. His work explores the connection between material, form, and culture.
How does Wadden incorporate historical influences in his art?
Wadden's art honors folk art, Bauhaus, and modernist movements. He blends old weaving traditions with new techniques.
What is the significance of the assemblage process in Wadden’s work?
The assemblage process lets Wadden join woven panels together. This creates cohesive pieces that show off their unique textures and stories.
Which materials does Wadden use in his woven artworks?
Wadden uses cotton, wool, and recycled fibers. These materials add texture and color to his art.
How does scale affect Wadden's geometric abstractions?
Wadden's large pieces are meant to be striking. They balance precision with the natural flaws of hand-weaving.
How does Wadden blend painting and weaving in his art?
Wadden merges painting and weaving in his final stages. This mix creates dynamic, textured compositions.
What role do light and dark contrasts play in Wadden's pieces?
Wadden uses color and shadow to add depth and emotion. This creates a dialogue between the foreground and background, engaging viewers.
How does Wadden create movement and tension through space?
Wadden balances space to create movement and tension. This affects how viewers experience his art.
Why are repeating geometric shapes important in Wadden's art?
Geometric shapes are a key part of Wadden's work. They add rhythm and cohesion to his compositions.
What innovative techniques is Wadden known for?
Wadden is known for combining panels, colors, and contrasts. His techniques show his dedication to abstract weaving.
How does Wadden reconcile craft and modernism in his oeuvre?
Wadden merges old craft techniques with modern art. This challenges traditional views of art and craft.
What is the overarching vision of Brent Wadden's art?
Wadden's vision explores weaving, geometric abstraction, and the blend of craft and modern art. It showcases his technical skill and connection to history.
Selena Mattei
