Amy Helfand

I made my first rug for a show in the gallery at Wave Hill, the famed public garden in the Bronx. I immediately fell in love with the tactile, luxurious, and soulful quality the weaving brought to my artwork and was inspired to further explore this new medium. My first official collection of rugs was well received by the public and the press at Brooklyn Designs in 2005 and my business was launched. Since then, I have designed for my own line, as well as created many commissioned pieces for both residential and commercial environments. The collaborative process is very gratifying to me, both working with my clients and with my generous and knowledgeable team in Nepal. At heart, I remain a collector: of images, forms and colors, as well as rocks, sticks, and other ephemera from the natural world. My work has included photography, drawing, collage, sculpture and installation in addition to my current exploration of these luxurious textiles. I have a BA in American Studies and Photography from Hampshire College and an MFA from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and am the grateful recipient of numerous accolades, including the 2008 Best of Show Award for Carpet and Flooring at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York. When I’m not in my studio, I produce the House of Love concert series and tend my garden and family in Red Hook, Brooklyn.