About

Inspired by the Barbican’s Unravel: The Power and Politics of Textiles in Art exhibition, Christabel Balfour demonstrates the art of tapestry weaving in the Barbican Gallery shop. Working on a loom she designed herself, Christabel shares the skills she uses in her work every day and gives an insight into this slow and intricate craft.

Christabel Balfour is an artist and tapestry weaver based in East London. Her work explores the intricate and tactile qualities of weaving itself, as well as the connections between tapestry, landscape, storytelling and language. She works on several large floor looms, as well as simple looms she builds herself. Since setting up her practice in 2015, she has worked with numerous private clients and interior designers to produce bespoke tapestries and rugs. Her work has been featured in The Guardian, The New York Times and profiled by the Modern House. In 2020, she founded Balfour & Co Weaving School to share her skills with a wider audience.