The Bauhaus

Gunta Stolzl

Gunta Stolzl was the first female master at the Bauhaus, teaching in the weaving workshop which was the only workshop that female students could access for much of the Bauhaus' time. She created this department to increase the number of female students attending the Bauhaus because the idea of the Bauhaus was to be essentially limitless and creativity should be open to anyone. 

Gunta developed a style of weaving that incorporated modern art into textiles, applying the Bauhaus teachings on colour theory, composition and abstract art while also creating practical products that could be sold with a purpose. Almost all of Gunta's large knotted rugs and tapestries were sold at the Bauhaus exhibitions along with other projects she took on such as chairs with textile coverings and straps and abstract artworks on paper inspired by Paul Klee and Wassily Kadinsky; fellow masters at the Bauhaus. 

Gunta dedicated her life to the art of tapestry and weaving and continued to produce beautiful textiles all the way until her death in 1983 aged 83. Her passion for both the arts and teaching was immense and she threw so much passion into her projects and her students alike. After her death, her daughter discovered a file of plans for future projects and samples of materials and colour schemes. Her former students also carried on her legacy by continuing to produce textiles influenced by her.