Artist Profile
Tammy Kanat is a Melbourne-based fibre artist whose practice is driven by curiosity, intuition, and a deep sense of experimentation. Her work unfolds as an evolving narrative, shaped by colour, movement, and emotion. Using custom hand-formed copper looms, including her signature circular frames, Kanat pushes beyond the traditional boundaries of tapestry, creating intricate compositions that move fluidly between geometric and organic forms. Her style is deeply contemplative, drawing from her internal world and guided by a rhythmic, meditative process.
Influenced by artists such as Mark Rothko, Sheila Hicks, Hilma af Klint, and Judith Scott, Kanat shares their commitment to colour, form, and spiritual expression. She has exhibited widely both in Australia and internationally, including at the National Gallery of Victoria (Circles of Life, 2020), Milan Design Week (2017), and Sydney Contemporary (2022). Her work is held in significant collections, including the NGV, and in 2024 she received the Richard Parker Award at Melbourne Art Fair.
The Studio
The creative process for me is a delicate balance between curiosity, contemplation, and discovery. Each piece begins quietly, with no fixed plan—just a pull to begin. I follow the rhythm of my hands, letting colour and form emerge intuitively. Sometimes, it's a subtle shift—a knot tied differently or an unexpected colour pairing—that sparks something new. These fleeting moments of surprise bring energy and joy, fuelling the journey. Yet just as vital is the meditative calm that comes with repetition. Weaving grounds me; it becomes a dialogue between mind, body, and spirit—where movement becomes meaning, and stillness becomes strength.
This dance between structure and spontaneity is where I find connection—not only to myself, but to something greater. Science and spirituality aren't opposing forces in my work; they’re interwoven. One brings breakthroughs and stimulation, the other brings peace and flow. Whether it’s a thread left hanging as an invitation to return or the quiet thrill of the unknown, the act of creating becomes both a cerebral and sacred experience. It’s at this intersection—where thought and feeling, logic and intuition meet—that true art, and transformation, begins.