James Koehler

James Koehler’s work is thoroughly rooted in the cultural traditions of the American southwest yet are boldly contemporary, making him one of the most sought out weavers in the southwest. His tapestries often include pan-cultural motifs and evocative symbolism that emerges from his monastic background and work in anthropology. He dyes his own wool to achieve vibrant unique colors and does all of the weaving himself with a high quality of craftsmanship. He continues to be influenced by the extraordinary landscape and unique cultures of New Mexico and by certain aspects of the monastic aesthetic--simplicity, purity, seeking and portraying only what is essential. James Koehler has work in the permanent collections all over the world including the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Denver Art Museum, the United States Embassies in Reykjavik, Iceland and La Paz, Bolivia, and the Westin Hotel in Charlotte, North Carolina.