ethel stein puppeteer weaver 2712880

The article profiles 20th-century textile artist Ethel Stein, who remained largely unrecognized during her lifetime despite creating technically rigorous weavings. A new exhibition titled "Master of the Loom" at New York's Sapar Contemporary (on view through November 17) showcases her geometric, rhythmic works. Stein, who studied under Josef Albers at the Bauhaus and designed a unique loom now held by the Art Institute of Chicago, also had a playful side: she began her career as a puppeteer and created the puppet that became Lamb Chop, the beloved character performed by Shari Lewis on PBS. The exhibition highlights works such as "Rust Abstract," "Indigo 25," and "Black and White," which demonstrate her mastery of complex weaving structures and geometric abstraction.