Anni Albers (1899-1994)

• B orn - Annellse Elsa Frieda Fleischmann - Jewish

• Wife of Josef Albers.

• Studied painting before joining the Bauhaus

• The only studio at the Bauhaus open to women was the weaving workshop

• Reluctantly joined the weaving workshop. She learned to love it

• Took over the weaving department in 1931

• 1933, migrated to the USA as the Nazis rose in power

• Her husband became head of the Black Mountain Arts College

• 1949, her husband become chair of Yale University, College of Design, Connecticut

• 1949, she became the first textile designer to have a solo exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, establishing her as one of the most important designers of the day!

• 1961, awarded The Craftmanship Medal, by the American Institute of Architects.

• 1963, at the Tamarind Lithography Workshop, Los Angeles, switched from tapestry to lithography and screen printing.

• 1965, published, “On Weaving” helping to establish Design History as a serious area of academic study.

• 1976, Josef Albers dies

• 1976-1994 half-dozen honorary doctorates and lifetime achievement awards.

• 1981 a second American Craft Council Gold Medal, for “uncompromising excellence”