Opening New Presentation: MAK PERMANENT COLLECTION TEXTILES AND CARPETS

From exquisite knotted-pile carpets formerly owned by the Austrian imperial family such as the legendary “silk Mamluk carpet,” to surviving fragments of woven tapestry fabrics from Egypt that date back to late antiquity, to medieval liturgical embroideries that tell of women’s influence within the Church—the MAK Textiles and Carpets Collection brings together precious pieces with rich histories and multifaceted object biographies. The acclaimed collection of carpets is contextualized with other textile highlights from the collection, with special emphasis on how cultures are interwoven. 
Tue, 24.3.2026 7 pm10 pm
MAK – Museum of Applied Arts
Arranged by weaving and decorative techniques, the new presentation of the MAK Textiles and Carpets Collection makes it possible to experience the exhibits’ diversity as a colorful cross section of the collection. For this redisplay the MAK collaborated with the renowned Milan-based design studio Formafantasma, founded in 2009. The studio opted for delicate accents of color, atmospheric lighting, and large-format showcases, with the latter enabling visitors to look closely at these fascinating works.

Opening Talk  
Alice Rawsthorn, design critic and author  
(in English) 
 
On the exhibition 
Lilli Hollein, General Director, MAK 
Lara Steinhäußer, Curator, MAK Textiles and Carpets Collection  
Simone Farresin, Formafantasma 

Kindly supported by Rubelli

Logo Rubelli


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The permanent collection is open until 10 pm. 

Admission to the opening is free.
A ticket is required to visit all the other exhibitions (e.g. HELMUT LANG).
mak.at/tickets

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During our exhibition openings or events, photographs and videos are regularly taken and recorded by the MAK and other parties and published i.a. on the website and social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, etc.) of the MAK and other parties. Persons participating in exhibition openings and events or entering the MAK’s premises thereby give their consent to the publication of such photographs and videos, without remuneration and without the persons concerned expressly granting such permission.

Calendar

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