Weaving Worlds: Claude Como’s Sensory Celebration of Nature and Womanhood

ACM student, Chloe Fonge, at the Grandeur Nature exposition at the Gallifet Art Center, a new exhibition featuring the work of textile artist Claude Como.

I had the pleasure of seeing the new Grandeur Nature exposition at the Gallifet Art Center, a stunning new exhibition featuring the work of female textile artist Claude Como. Como, who specializes in tufting—an intricate carpet-making technique using wool—brought a captivating new perspective on nature, female form, and the child’s gaze through her art. 

The art center, as it often does, repainted their central room in a deep blue-green, setting the perfect backdrop for Como’s vibrant, naturalized, and textured works. Each space in the gallery was alive with color, texture, and emotion. The interplay of soft wool and bold hues created a sensory experience that was as much about touch as it was about sight. I had to look at everything up close; I marveled at how something that looks so familiar to me could be used in artistic expression and not for the practical everyday functions we know it to be used for. Como’s mastery of tufting is evident in every piece, with the wool almost seeming to come alive, inviting us to both admire and feel the organic forms. The contrast between the lushness of the wool and the natural elements it portrayed added depth to the work, making each piece feel like a living, breathing thing. 

What struck me most was how her textile pieces captured the beauty and complexity of nature while being paralleled with her paintings of female representation. These delicate images of women often stared right at the viewer, but not in a way that challenged, threatened, or questioned. Many of her artworks use the same bold hues as her textile work—vibrant reds, and cerulean blues. I enjoyed seeing her represent the female community, or the interconnection of femininity to nature. It was both empowering and intimate.

The exhibition was a feast for the senses. At the end of my visit I watched this video in the furthest room of the art center that described Como’s techniques, and I left feeling deeply moved by Como’s ability to transform simple materials into rich, layered narratives. Grandeur Nature is a must-see, a celebration of nature, femininity, childhood, and the artistry of tufting.