Artist Erin Riley Takes On Feminism Through Her Elaborate Tapestries
And it's the most earth shattering act of feminist defiance we can think of in the current art world.
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Erin M. Riley is weaving tapestries to mirror porn stills. Yes, you read that right, and it’s honestly the most earth shattering act of feminist defiance we can think of in the current art world.
Based out of Brooklyn, New York, Riley’s main tool is a floor loom, and her medium a tapestry, a skill which society tells us is traditionally “women’s work,” but Riley’s subjects are anything but traditional. Taking her inspiration from porn stills, everyday objects like bloody tampons, birth control, and her own nude selfies, Riley’s tapestries depict honest, feminine sexuality. In an interview with Paper Mag, Riley says, “in my early 20's I was grappling with feelings of judgement towards young women who were putting themselves in risky situations, and shame in how my own sexuality manifested, how much I desired sex, masturbated, etc... I realized that my judgement came from society's standards that are put on women to be pure and to keep themselves out of harm's way, rather than dealing with the aggressors.”
Some Girls
From the series "Year of Porn"
The Beginning
Riley’s ongoing projects include “Year of Porn,” in which she weaves tapestries to mirror porn stills “at the moment of climax,” and “Figures,” which depicts real selfies from both herself and anonymous women in provocative poses. Nevermind the amount of talent and hours it must take to make these tapestries come to life, the underlying message behind Riley’s work is mind-blowingly radical in the truest sense of the word. Her work forces the audience to stop and think about the earnestness behind each of these tapestries and the acts they depict. It comments on society’s hyper-sexualization of women as objects, while simultaneously calling honest female sexuality to the forefront, all via a tactile object that is traditionally considered a “woman’s task,” and we are absolutely floored.
Undressing
From the series "Year of Porn"
Purple Panties
More of Riley’s work can be found on her Instagram @erinmriley and website Erin M. Riley
Based out of Brooklyn, New York, Riley’s main tool is a floor loom, and her medium a tapestry, a skill which society tells us is traditionally “women’s work,” but Riley’s subjects are anything but traditional. Taking her inspiration from porn stills, everyday objects like bloody tampons, birth control, and her own nude selfies, Riley’s tapestries depict honest, feminine sexuality. In an interview with Paper Mag, Riley says, “in my early 20's I was grappling with feelings of judgement towards young women who were putting themselves in risky situations, and shame in how my own sexuality manifested, how much I desired sex, masturbated, etc... I realized that my judgement came from society's standards that are put on women to be pure and to keep themselves out of harm's way, rather than dealing with the aggressors.”
Some Girls
From the series "Year of Porn"
The Beginning
Riley’s ongoing projects include “Year of Porn,” in which she weaves tapestries to mirror porn stills “at the moment of climax,” and “Figures,” which depicts real selfies from both herself and anonymous women in provocative poses. Nevermind the amount of talent and hours it must take to make these tapestries come to life, the underlying message behind Riley’s work is mind-blowingly radical in the truest sense of the word. Her work forces the audience to stop and think about the earnestness behind each of these tapestries and the acts they depict. It comments on society’s hyper-sexualization of women as objects, while simultaneously calling honest female sexuality to the forefront, all via a tactile object that is traditionally considered a “woman’s task,” and we are absolutely floored.
Undressing
From the series "Year of Porn"
Purple Panties
More of Riley’s work can be found on her Instagram @erinmriley and website Erin M. Riley
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