Kari Dyrdal

Revolutionizing Textile Art Through Tradition and Technology

Kari Dyrdal pushes the boundaries of textile art, blending traditional weaving techniques with cutting-edge digital technology to create monumental tapestries. Her large-scale weavings are more than visual displays—they tell stories. By integrating traditional craftsmanship with modern digital tools, she redefines textile art, proving that weaving is as much about innovation as it is about heritage.

Early Influences and Education

Dyrdal’s passion for textiles began in childhood when she learned embroidery from her grandmother. This early exposure to craft led her to formal studies in textile arts, earning a degree from Bergen Kunsthåndverksskole in 1977. She continued her education with postgraduate studies at Croydon College of Art and Technology in London in 1978.

Artistic Approach and Techniques

Dyrdal works at the intersection of memory, pattern, and structure. Using her own photography as a starting point, she transforms images into woven surfaces through digital looms, merging representation with abstraction. Her compositions, created with meticulous precision, balance mechanized precision with rich textures to offer both intellectual depth and tactile presence.

Exhibitions and Collections

Major public collections worldwide showcase Dyrdal’s work, including:

• The National Museum, Oslo, Norway

• The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, USA

• The National Museum of Decorative Arts and Design, Trondheim, Norway

• KODE/Vestlandske Kunstindustrimuseum, Bergen, Norway

• Sørlandets Kunstmuseum, Kristiansand, Norway

Teaching and Legacy

A former professor at the University of Bergen’s Faculty of Art, Music, and Design, Dyrdal has played a key role in shaping the next generation of textile artists. She continues to live and work in Norway, redefining the possibilities of textile art.