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From the 15th of October 2011 through the 12th of February 2012 the Textile Museum will showcase the exhibit Weaving Abstraction: Kuba Textiles and the Woven Art of Central Africa that features a selection of 19th and early 20th century objects, including ceremonial skirts, 'velvet' tribute cloths and basketry.

The textiles of the Kuba kingdom are among the most distinctive and spectacular works of African art.  Emerging in the early 17th century, the Kuba kingdom grew into a powerful and wealthy confederation of 18 different ethnic groups located in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo.  While they have fascinated artists, collectors and designers for over a century, this will be the first major museum exhibition in the US to showcase the artistic inventiveness and graphic power of Kuba design.

More than 50 exceptional objects will be on view from the permanent collection of The Textile Museum, the National Museum of African Art, and several private collections.  For more information, please visit The Textile Museum.