Fiber artist Denja Harris opens her solo exhibition "The Space Between: Texture Studies" at the Oceanside Museum of Art (OMA) on June 28. The show features large-scale tufted works that Harris describes as "painting with yarn," alongside three-dimensional soft sculptures stuffed with scrap materials. Harris, who began repurposing fabrics as a middle schooler and later taught herself tufting during the pandemic, uses primarily deadstock and vintage yarn to create layered, colorful pieces that blend high-pile textures with smooth organic shapes.
The exhibition arrives amid a broader resurgence of interest in fiber art, partly fueled by pandemic-era crafting. OMA's director of exhibitions Katie Dolgov notes that the tactile, comforting nature of fabric may resonate with audiences seeking emotional solace in a turbulent world. Harris's intuitive, improvisational process—where color palettes and compositions evolve organically—reflects a growing appreciation for handmade, materially driven work in contemporary art, positioning her within a wave of self-taught fiber artists gaining institutional recognition.