The Californer - Visions Museum of Textile Art & Oceanside Museum of Art Present INTIKA, Men in Textiles, Exhibition

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SAN DIEGO - Californer -- Visions Museum of Textile Art (VMOTA) and Oceanside Museum of Art (OMA) will showcase INTIKA: Men in Textiles, a groundbreaking exhibition celebrating male artists in the textile arts. This show will be on display at VMOTA from May 10 to October 4, 2025 and at OMA from May 15 to August 17, 2025. The exhibition highlights the work of artists who identify as masculine, representing a variety of backgrounds and using diverse techniques to push the boundaries of traditional textile art.

Featuring artists who experiment with unconventional materials and incorporate elements from disciplines like sculpture and installation art, INTIKA explores how textiles and art are intertwined with cultural norms and gender roles across civilizations. The exhibition emphasizes the significant but often overlooked contributions of men in textile art, from knitting hats to intricate embroidery. Their creations evoke powerful emotional responses, blending beauty, symbolism, and commentary on contemporary issues such as politics, the environment, and social justice, all from a male perspective.

This exhibition was inspired by the island of Taquile in Peru. The island, known as "Intika" in the language of Quechua, is home to male artisans who create some of the finest textiles in the Andes. In 2008, the textile art of Taquile was honored with inscription on UNESCO's Representative List of "Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity." According to Visions Museum of Textile Arts Curatorial and Education Manager Armando Garcia-Orso, this recognition ignited a deeper appreciation for the significance of the artisans' craft, leading to seven men being acknowledged as Masters in Textiles. INTIKA will be on display at VMOTA from May 10 to October 4, 2025, and will also be featured at OMA from May 15 to August 17, 2025.

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"We at Oceanside Museum of Art are thrilled to collaborate with Visions Museum of Textile Arts on this meaningful exhibition," states Katie Dolgov, Director of Exhibitions & Collections at OMA. "Fiber arts hold a vital place in the cultural and artistic legacy of our region, and it's essential to celebrate the historic and contemporary contributions of artists—especially those who have been underrepresented in the field. It's truly an honor to work alongside the dedicated team at Visions on this impactful exhibition, where our respective missions aligned beautifully in our efforts to showcase these fiber arts stories."

For more information, visit https://vmota.org/intika/