Commissioning an ATW tapestry is an exciting and immersive experience. Throughout you and your guests are welcome to visit the ATW, meet the artist and weavers, and see your tapestry grow on the loom. Your support in commissioning a tapestry from the ATW will assist us in creating more opportunities for weaver and artists to collaborate and push the boundaries of contemporary tapestry weaving.

The first stage in commissioning a tapestry commences with a visit to the ATW for a meeting with the Director. During the meeting, a range of design ideas and artists appropriate to the project are discussed, without obligation.

Once you decide to proceed, detailed discussions between the client, the artist and the weaver are undertaken before the artist produces their tapestry design. At this stage, a quotation, giving both cost and completion date, is supplied. The cost of weaving a tapestry is influenced by many factors including design, complexity, colour palette and warp sett (how finely it is woven). Completion time also varies greatly, with larger commissions taking 6 to 12 months.

As the tapestry evolves you and your guests are welcome at the ATW to meet the artist and weavers and see your tapestry grow on the loom. As an ATW client, you can also arrange other events such as cocktail parties, sit down dinners, or evening tours with the Director to be held at the ATW (additional costs may apply).

The completion of your tapestry is celebrated at a cutting off ceremony, where you and designing artist are invited to cut the tapestry from the loom.

Each ATW tapestry is unique and hand-woven by a team of specialist weavers using the traditional Gobelin technique, in which an image is formed by tightly packing layers of weft (horizontal threads) over warps (vertical thread). The weft is discontinuous, meaning that shapes and forms are built up gradually and weft threads seldom pass completely from one side of the work to the other. ATW wefts consist of multiple threads of wool and/or cotton of varying colour, which allows the weavers to deftly control and manipulate hue and tone. The ATW’s dyer is responsible for dyeing a base palette of 368 colours in small, highly controlled batches. Only the best lightfast and colourfast dyes are used and additional custom colours can be developed to meet project requirements. All ATW tapestries are woven using the finest Australian wool, which is grown using environmentally sustainable and humane animal practices.

Once cut from the loom the tapestry is lined for conservation purposes and prepared for a hanging system in consultation with the client.

Through the vision of client initiated commissions the ATW has had the opportunity to weave tapestries designed by leading Australian and International artists, which hang in significant public and private collections, both nationally and internationally.

First Nations Commissions

How to Commission Brochure

The ATW welcomes enquiries regarding tapestry commission and sales:
+613 9699 7885
contact@austapestry.com.au