Art advisor Naomi Baigell recalls that when she managed Prudential's corporate art collection in the late 1980s and 1990s, executives refused to hang textile works by Colombian-born artist Olga de Amaral, preferring abstract paintings instead. Now 93 and still working, Amaral is experiencing a major market and institutional renaissance: the Institute of Contemporary Art in Miami is hosting a solo show of her work (through October 12), her pieces are included in MoMA's "Woven Histories" exhibition, and she has been represented by Lisson Gallery since 2019. In 2025, her auction performance has been stellar, with a new record of $1.16 million set in May for *Imagen perdida 27* (1996) at Phillips New York, and total sales of $4.07 million as of June.
This surge matters because it reflects a broader, long-overdue reevaluation of textile and fiber art within the contemporary art world. Once dismissed as craft or decorative, Amaral's innovative use of materials like horsehair, wool, and gold leaf is now recognized as a pioneering contribution to fine art. Her rising market—100% sell-through rate in 2025, with prices climbing from around $400,000 in 2010 to over $1 million—signals that collectors and institutions are finally embracing the medium. The article also underscores how gallery representation (Lisson) and major museum shows can catalyze an artist's market, especially for those who have worked for decades outside the mainstream spotlight.