NEWS RELEASE
CAMBRIDGE PUBLIC LIBRARY
************************
Olivia Mae Sinclair's exceptional artwork, It Takes Two, has been proudly added to the permanent art collection at Cambridge Art Galleries. A jury chose the piece as the newest acquisition from the Queen’s Square exhibition, Next in Fibre: 20th Anniversary of Fibreworks.
“We are thrilled to welcome It Takes Two into our collection, a piece that celebrates our long-standing dedication to fibre art and speaks to textile work's dynamic and evolving role in contemporary art,” expressed Alix Voz, Director of Cambridge Art Galleries. “Olivia Mae Sinclair’s work is raw, bold, and unapologetically intimate—it captures the spirit of our collection while pushing the boundaries of the discipline in ways that resonate with today’s world.”
The acquisition honours the legacy of Mary Misner, who was director of Cambridge Art Galleries for 27 years and helped establish the gallery as a champion of textile and fibre arts. It Takes Two signals a promising future for textile-based artwork and celebrates the innovation of emerging artists like Sinclair, who continue to shape the medium for new generations.
About the Artist
Olivia Mae Sinclair is a graduate of OCAD University's Interdisciplinary Master’s in Art, Media, and Design. She merges her unique approach with the influence of the Sloppy Craft movement, which emphasizes process over perfection. Her textile books, crafted from manipulated fabrics and marked by sewing, fraying, and machine embroidery, challenge conventional perceptions of fibre art.
About the Fibre Art Collection
The permanent collection was established in 1986, focusing on contemporary fibre art to reflect the region’s industrial base, which was established by the textile industry that once flourished along the Grand River. It Takes Two is the first work added to the permanent collection since 2016.
Visit ideaexchange.org/art for more details on the permanent collection, exhibitions, and other gallery activities.
Cambridge Public Library (formerly Idea Exchange) has five locations, supporting and inspiring its community in the exploration of reading, arts, innovation, and learning.
***********************
