Valerie Kirk
Textiles
7 + 8 NOVEMBER 2026
Day + Time | Saturday + Sunday | 10am – 4pm
Location | 12 Todd Street, O’Connor ACT 2602
Access | Wheelchair accessible toilets | Wheelchair accessibility | EFTPOS | Cash | Toilet
This art, tapestry and textiles open studio features recent work from Valerie Kirk’s latest residency alongside commissioned garden drawings and textiles collected during her travels in Japan, Laos and South Africa.
Canberra friends, colleagues and students will also exhibit small tapestry works alongside Valerie’s work, celebrating the connections shared through a mutual love of the medium and a common creative passion. Throughout the event, the artists will demonstrate textile techniques and speak about their work.
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Valerie Kirk is an accomplished artist, tapestry weaver, writer, teacher and public figure whose work has made a lasting impact on the field of textiles.
Throughout her career, Valerie has travelled widely to teach, undertake residencies, exhibit and lead major tapestry projects. She has conducted research into Australia Indigenous textiles and has directed significant collaborations.
Valerie was commissioned to design and weave six major tapestries celebrating the Nobel, Japan and Kyoto Prizes in Science. Her achievements have been recognised with an Australia Council New Work grant, the ACT Creative Arts Fellowship, the Muse Arts Woman of the Year Award, and leadership of the Canberra Centenary Community Tapestry project. Her artworks are held in public and private collections nationally and internationally. In 2022, Valerie was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in recognition of her significant service to tertiary arts education and her contributions as an artist and curator.
Images | Valerie Kirk | Open Studio, 2023 | Photos by Tim Ngo