Lesli Robertson Studio is a textile consultancy and studio focused on handmade, global textiles. With a 20+ year background in textile design, education, and program curation, I work collaboratively on a range of multi-disciplinary projects spanning the globe.
WOMEN ARTISANS OF CENTRAL ASIA: A Lookbook Journey
With partners in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, Women Artisans of Central Asia takes you into the studios of 50 artisan entrepreneurs through a collaboration between the Union of Artisans in Kazakhstan and the Smithsonian CFCH.
This project was implemented with support from the USAID Trade Central Asia Activity and the Commercial Law Development Program of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
COMMUNITY AND CURATORIAL PROJECTS
In partnership with arts organizations, museums, and non-profits, I co-create and curate a range of interdisciplinary programs that weave together art, design, community, science, and more.
ON THE LOOM
As an experimental weaver and handwoven loom specialist, I explore traditional and non-traditional materials for new product design collections. As an interdisciplinary artist and community engagement specialist, I collaborate with weavers and community members to manipulate and build looms for functional, sculptural, and innovative applications.
FROM THE STUDIO
WHO I WORK WITH
From workshops, to small fellowships, to larger consultancies, I work with a range of projects with national and international organizations.
Since 2005, I have partnered with artists, researchers, and activitists to support the cultural textiles of Uganda. Learn more below.
Visit BARKCLOTH PROJECTS to see our past work.
Visit MEKEKA DESIGNS to learn about our bespoke textile studio.
ABOUT
I am an interdisciplinary artist, textile consultant, and project developer who partners with local and international organisations on programs spanning curation, education, and textile design. With a background in higher education, I have worked at the intersection of cultural arts and contemporary design practice for over 20 years.
More recently she worked on a set of projects supported by USAID, the Smithsonian Institution, and Fulbright Specialist program, which took her to locations as diverse as Kuwait, Armenia, Uganda, Kazakhstan, and Ghana.
My national and international project based work includes the development of community engagement events, curatorial projects, professional trainings, product design, exhibition design, and hands-on workshops. As a former Principal Lecturer of Fibers at the University of North Texas, I worked over a decade developing curricula and teaching textile based courses while leading innovative initiatives including the development of the UNT Natural Dye Garden and partnerships
with local museums and arts organizations.
I have shown my artwork nationally and internationally in addition to lecturing at numerous international events and conferences including the Qurain Cultural Festival in Kuwait, European League of the Institute of the Arts, Textile Society of America Symposia, and Creative Dundee.
Currently she works as Outreach Director for Around the World in 80 Fabrics and consultant for the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage.
In the artistic field, she puts all of her creative energy into Mekeka Designs, where she works with craft specialists in Uganda to create beautiful loom woven and
plaited textiles from indigenous fibres including her passion -
lubugo Ugandan barkcloth.
