The Textiles of Henry Moore

As part of the MFA Boston’s Georgia O’Keeffe and Henry Moore exhibition, we wanted to create product that represented Moore’s textile work to stand alongside his sculpture designs. While Moore is most known for his large-scale sculptural pieces, he also worked in textile design. Moore’s first introduction to textile work was in the 1940s, when Zika Ascher set up a textile business in London. Ascher commissioned a number of artists, including Moore, to design a range of headscarves; now known as the Ascher Squares. This project re-established a pan-European network of artists and made the work accessible to a post-war population.            

Henry Moore, British, 1898–1986

Textile Design 1943 (HMF 2150).

Textile Design 1943 (HMF 2154).

Photo: Henry Moore Archive

Moore embraced the challenge of this textile work and soon began to fill his sketchbooks with ideas and drawings. The fabrics he designed could be used around the house for soft furnishings like curtains and pillows. Brands such as Paul Smith and Burberry later used Henry Moore’s textile designs in their apparel lines, placing Moore’s work in conversation with the fashion world as well. Moore’s designs were vibrant and had uniquely sculptural patterns. They were instantly a commercial success and served as direct inspiration for future textile pieces. Many of the textile items held in the Henry Moore Foundation’s archive collection pull from Moore’s original ideas, themes, and designs.

Henry Moore, British, 1898–1986

Textile Design 1943 (HMF 2154).

Photo: Henry Moore Archive

The MFA Boston Shop has created a product line featuring a few of Henry Moore’s textile designs. These items serve to illustrate the full scope of Moore’s work and interests as an artist.