Fibre
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Concentration*
Turn thread and textiles into tools of powerful creative expression.
| Type | Credits | Duration | Format | School and Department |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Fine Arts – Studio Art | 120 | 4 years, Full-time | In-person, studio | School of Craft + Emerging Media (SCEM) |
| Secondary Concentration, BFA or BDes | 15 | 2 years (completed alongside primary degree |
Combine meticulous technique with wild experimentation as you explore material, pattern and meaning. Whether you’re creating wearable art, installation, or sculptural forms, your work will challenge boundaries and spark conversations.
Program Overview
AUArts’ Fibre concentration offers hands-on immersion in weaving, papermaking, surface design, dyeing and experimental textile processes. Start with foundational techniques and move toward ambitious, self-directed projects that push the boundaries of contemporary fibre art.
You’ll work in professional-grade studios, learn from active artists and researchers and explore fibre’s intersections with social issues, sustainability and new technologies. Studio culture emphasizes collaboration, critique and creative risk-taking, preparing you for both independent practice and community engagement.
Program Highlights
- 2D & 3D Foundations: Start with hands-on projects in weaving, papermaking, felt, dyeing, embroidery, soft sculpture and wearable art.
- Surface Design & Printing: Master screen-printing on cloth, repeat pattern techniques and personalized imagery for textiles.
- Cloth Dyeing & Painting: Explore vibrant colour through both traditional and experimental dye and resist processes.
- Advanced Weaving: Learn on looms, experiment with complex structures, pattern, tapestry, and Jacquard techniques.
- Papermaking: Create two- and three-dimensional art with handmade paper, exploring its sculptural and expressive potential.
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Combine fibre with painting, sculpture, design, or more; work across media and connect with other creative fields.
Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the Fibre program will:
- Demonstrate expertise in fibre techniques like weaving, surface design, dyeing and papermaking.
- Critically position their work within historical, cultural and contemporary contexts.
- Develop, present and critique independent and collaborative projects.
- Exhibit strong creative problem-solving, material knowledge and technical skills.
- Articulate a personal artistic philosophy and approach to fibre.
Faculty
Learn from practicing fibre artists, educators and researchers with national and international exhibition records. Supported by expert technicians who provide hands-on guidance in material processes, safe studio practices and creative troubleshooting.
Faculty
Studio Technician
Alumni
Fibre graduates have exhibited in local and international galleries, launched independent textile brands, collaborated in the fashion and design industries, led community art projects and received prestigious residencies and grants.
Fibre Alumni
Jolie Bird - Artist in the travelling exhibition In the making curated for the IKG by Diana Sherlock.
Lindsay Joy - Recently completed an MFA in Winnipeg and is a practicing artist.
Natalie Gerber - One of the cofounders of the New Craft Coalition in Calgary, an amazing cooperative responsible for a twice-yearly show and exhibition at Festival Hall in Inglewood.
Shannon Stratton - Recently appointed curator at MAD in New York.
Amalie Atkins - Work includes filmmaking, fabric-based sculpture and performance.
Natalie Lauchlan - Emerging artist who graduated from AUArts in 2014
Janice Yan-Yan Wu - Creates whimsical one-of-a-kind hot water bottle covers.
"The Fibre department at AUArts has always felt like a tight knit community. The instructors have pushed me to look further into material and process in order to develop my ideas into resolved projects by offering invaluable knowledge. Fibre is a specialization that can be applied to so many areas and I know I will carry the skills that I have learned into many aspects of my life." - Madison Potter, Fibre Major
Studio Facilities
Fibre students have access to:
- Silk-screen printing (seven large, four-yard-capacity printing tables)
- Natural dyes (large dye studio with induction ranges and two indigo vats)
- Hand and computer assisted weaving (38 floor and table looms, including a Jacquard and 16-harness AVL Dobby)
- Papermaking (hollander/hydro pulper)
- Mixed media studios
- Individual studio spaces for third and fourth year BFA and MFA students
Career Paths
Fibre graduates thrive in diverse creative fields, launching careers in fashion houses, textile design studios, galleries and innovative creative enterprises.
Potential career opportunities include:
- Textile Designer
- Fashion Designer
- Surface Pattern Designer
- Costume Designer
- Materials Researcher
- Fibre / Textile Artist
- Exhibition Artist
- Weaver
- Printmaker
- Dye Specialist
- Product Developer
- Visual Merchandiser / Stylist
Culture & Community
Fibre is a community of artists weaving ideas through collaboration, curiosity and material exploration.
Beyond the classroom
- Work-Integrated Learning: Opportunities for internships and job placements with local studios, festivals or non-profits.
- Community & Events: Join student-run clubs, discord chats or attend on-campus events, visiting artist lectures and workshops.
- Awards & Scholarships: Receive financial support through scholarships, awards, paid call-for-submissions and funding for creative projects.
- Academic Resources: One-on-one faculty mentorship and access to technical support. Plus, full access to AUArts' Writing Centre, Luke Lindoe Library and Learning Commons
About the Fibre Concentration
The Fibre concentration provides opportunities for intensive studio-based material research through both discipline-specific and experimental, cross-disciplinary approaches. You’ll learn to situate your work within historical precedents, contemporary material culture, and connections to other disciplines.
You will be encouraged to pursue studio research that aligns with your academic and artistic goals. Highlighting contemporary practice and personal expression, the Fibre concentration is especially valuable for students exploring hybrid creative practices where fibre methodologies drive new ideas.
