Embroidered Traditions from Morocco to AfghanistanJanet Marion Purdy Barbara Franke Associate Curator, Textiles, Art Institute of Chicago, and Visiting Lecturer, Department of Art History, University of Chicago

This talk explores embroidery in Southwest Asia and North Africa as a form of cultural expression that conveys identity, status, and belief. Focusing on textiles from Morocco to Afghanistan, it examines how migration, trade, and religious exchange have shaped visual connections across the region. With selected works and curatorial process, the talk highlights both regional diversity and the role of multiple perspectives, oral histories, and individual narratives in preserving cultural knowledge.