Olga de Amaral
Lienzo Ceremonial 6

Lienzo Ceremonial 6

© Olga de Amaral

Lienzo Ceremonial 6
Lienzo Ceremonial 6
ArtistColombian, born 1932
CultureColombian
Titles
  • Lienzo Ceremonial 6
Date1989
MediumLinen, acrylic, and gold leaf
Dimensions76 1/2 × 20 3/4 × 1 3/4in. (194.3 × 52.7 × 4.4cm)
Credit LineGift of Carol Straus
Object number2006.5
Not on view

Explore Further

Object Type
Description

Olga de Amaral is inspired by the countryside around her home in Bogota, memories of gold-leaf covered Catholic church interiors, and knowledge of ancient craft traditions and materials gleaned from trips to native artisan markets. Using traditional hand-weaving techniques, linen, and fibers grown in Colombian soil, she carefully constructs abstract representations of place which are at once spiritual and sensual. They are tangible reminiscences of the land, its people, and its traditions.


The Lienzo Ceremonial series features intricately woven "waterfalls" of color. A spiderweb of individual linen threads forms a fluid composition of color gradations. The background of each work has also been gessoed and painted to further enhance the overall composition. Technique, structure, and materials have always been central to de Amaral's work. Weaving and plaiting are her primary techniques although she is also very adept at layering.


Provenance[Bellas Artes, Santa Fe, New Mexico]; Elissa and Daniel Arons; [Helen Drutt Gallery, Philadelphia]; Carol Straus; given to MFAH, 2006.
Exhibition History"Contemporary Craft from the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston," Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, May 27–August 13, 2001.

"Eighth Annual International Exposition of Sculpture Objects & Functional Art," Seventh Regiment Armory, New York, June 2–5, 2005.

"The Past Made Present: Contemporary Art and Memory," Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, September 2, 2006–January 16, 2007.

"Olga de Amaral: To Weave a Rock," Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, July 25–September 19, 2021; Cranbrook Art Museum, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, October 30, 2021–March 27, 2022.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
Label on verso: 549 "Lienzo ceremonial" / 6 / 1.90 x 53 cent. / OLGA DE AMARAL / Olga de Amaral 1989 / [last line cursive]
Label on verso: Olga de Amaral 1989 / [cursive]

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

If you have questions about this work of art or the MFAH Online Collection please contact us.

Tierra y Oro 2
Olga de Amaral
1986
Horsehair, linen, and gold leaf
2012.520
Glyph IX
Olga de Amaral
2002
Linen, gold leaf, clay, and paint
2008.901
Glyph IV
Olga de Amaral
2002
Linen, gold leaf, clay, and paint
2008.902
Sol trenzado
Olga de Amaral
2016
Linen, gesso, and acrylic
2021.105
Columna en Pasteles
Olga de Amaral
1972
Wool and horsehair
2019.162
Riscos y Tiempo
Olga de Amaral
1984
Wool and horsehair
2010.2262
Landscape Accumulation #9
Lewis Knauss
1997
Hemp, linen, paper twine, Japanese paper, and acrylic paint
2003.250
Not Just Another Pretty Vase
Lissa Hunter
1994
Raffia, paper cord, handmade paper, waxed linen, fabric, copper tacks, and acrylic paints
2009.1156
Desert Zone
Jane Sauer
1988
Waxed linen thread, acrylic paint, and foam
2015.495
Macungie Notes #3
Lewis Knauss
1977
Linen and acrylic paint
2004.1175
Dove
Lenore Tawney
1974
Linen
2022.181
Phone Tree
Josh Faught
2015
Dyed hemp and pin on linen
2023.151.A,.B