Woven and Cast: Chinese Textiles and Japanese Metalwork from the Shirley Z. Johnson Collection

Woven and Cast brings together artworks across two sets of media, cultures, and time periods: Chinese textiles of the Ming and Qing dynasties and contemporary Japanese metalwork. Why pair these very different types of art? The moment you encounter shimmering threads and metals side by side, you’ll understand.

Each stunning pairing begs close looking. Discover how various materials shine, from silk and peacock feathers to gold and silver. Explore shared motifs and decode the symbols, techniques, and craftsmanship that make up these works. You’ll encounter surprising connections between media, such as gold-wrapped thread and woven metal. To support your exploration, approachable summaries introduce key terms and explain the techniques of weaving, embroidery, hammering, and casting. Meanwhile, videos bring the metalwork process to the gallery alongside close-up looks at the textiles with art conservators.

These distinct traditions complement each other with unexpected visual connections. Together, they create an effect more spectacular than either form does alone. Donor Shirley Z. Johnson recognized this when she built these collections. Follow her unique vision to understand the allure of radiant surfaces and metallic sheens worked in different artistic media.