Fibre Arts Australia's third International Art Textile Biennale is now touring Australia, featuring 39 textile artists from 10 countries. The exhibition will visit nine galleries across the country through September 2026. At its debut at East Gippsland Art Gallery, three Australian artists received biennale awards: Sue Coppock won the Major Award (AU$2,000) for her embroidered fencing mask 'Are You Wearing a Mask Right Now?', Claudia Mazzotta won the Australian Excellence Award for 'Untouched Terrains', and Nicola Oliver won the Glenys Mann Award for 'Shadows Where Life Once Was'.
The biennale matters because it highlights the growing recognition of contemporary textile art within Australia's visual arts landscape. Fibre Arts Australia has supported textile artists for over 25 years, and this touring exhibition brings international and local fiber art to regional galleries, expanding access and visibility for a medium often underrepresented in mainstream art discourse.