Peter Collingwood (1922-2008) is widely considered to be the most celebrated British artist-weaver of the last fifty years. His pioneering work reflects a masterful blend of traditional craftsmanship and modern visual abstraction, resulting in textile art that resonates through both historical and contemporary contexts. Collingwood’s innovative weaving techniques produced striking pieces that blur the boundaries between functional craft and fine art, creating a unique dialogue between past traditions and future possibilities.
Born in 1922 in Marylebone, Collingwood found his vocation early. During his national service, he constructed a loom from two deckchairs to weave scarves for officers' wives – already exploring his true calling: weaving. After his service, Collingwood trained in the workshop of Ethel Mairet - one of the most influential weavers of the twentieth century - before working with Barbara Sawyer and Alastair Morton. In 1952, Collingwood established his own workshop in north London, producing handwoven rugs sold through prestigious outlets such as Liberty’s and Heal’s.
In 1957, Collingwood became a founding fellow of the Digswell Arts Trust in Hertfordshire, later moving in 1964 to Nayland, near Colchester, where he converted an old school into his studio and home. There, he began developing his signature, most celebrated works: the macrogauze hangings. These pieces feature linen threads intricately wound around steel rods and explore geometric and mathematical patterns in both two- and three-dimensional forms. ‘Macrogauze 1’ featured in the Victoria and Albert Museum’s 1965–67 touring exhibition Weaving for Walls, and in 1969, the museum staged a joint show titled Coper/Collingwood, placing his work alongside that of the famed ceramist Hans Coper.
In recognition of his contribution to textile art, Collingwood was appointed OBE in 1974. His work is represented in major private collections and public institutions globally, including the Tate, the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum, and the Art Institute of Chicago.
