For Art Rotterdam 2025, we are proud to present the works of Hemaseh Manawi Rad (1995, NL) and Lawrence James Bailey (1976, UK), two exceptional textile artists whose approaches to needle and thread weave deeply personal and diverse narratives. Both artists draw inspiration from their immediate surroundings, using fabric as a medium to explore memory, identity, and the spaces they inhabit.

Hemaseh’s work is a dialogue between cultures. Her Persian roots and current Western environment create friction in experiences. These triggers inspire her to create tactile and textile works that do justice to both cultures. For Lawrence, the people’s relationship with the landscape forms the backbone to his work. In particular how individuals use their surrounding environment for hidden, subversive or introverted acts.