Margaret Grafton b. 1930

  • Artist (Weaver),
  • Artist (Glass & metal Artist / Designer)
English born, Sydney resident artist known for metal weaving

Margaret Grafton (1930–2004) was born in England and trained there as an artist, later working in theatre and set design with her husband Dennis Grafton before migrating in 1955. She established her Darlinghurst studio in 1963 and worked on major public works commissions for law courts, hospitals, city councils and NSW Parliament until the late 1980s.

From the outset Grafton’s practice was experimental in design and technique, well suited to the challenge of the ‘image weaver’ in an architectural project to develop an original interpretation of site, context and subject. She worked closely with architects Philip Cox, Andrew Andersons and Peter Johnson, and it was Grafton’s crucial working philosophy to create an original tapestry, from concept to finished article. Her first commission, and perhaps her most important work, was the Tocal Chapel tapestry which, like the building’s radical design and construction, combines modern iconography with ancient weaving techniques.

Andrew Andersons commissioned the seven Heraldic Tapestries for Parramatta Court House (1972–74). Subsequently Andersons commissioned Margaret Grafton’s tapestry, State Coat of Arms, for the NSW Parliament lift (1980) to help interlink the new and historic Georgian parliamentary buildings. Heraldic tapestries can also create controversy. Grafton’s first foray into metallic weaving was so apocalyptic and caused such a stir that she abandoned metal for twenty-five years. Her silver 'waterfall’ tapestry for the State Banco Court hung for only four days.

Her last large-scale narrative tapestry, like her first major work, the Tocal Tapestry, had faith and feminism as themes. The Sisters of Charity wanted to commemorate the Order’s work with women convicts and the poor. Finished in 1988, Grafton’s tapestry hangs in the foyer of St Vincent’s Hospital, Darlinghurst, in Sydney, founded and run by women as a free hospital in 1857.

With the decline of public works building and commissioning after the late 1980s, Grafton turned her energies to philosophy and was awarded her PhD from the University of Sydney in 1997. The National Gallery, state galleries and individuals collected her exhibited art weavings. As a single mother she was helped by her commissions to raise three sons. Active in the period of the Green Bans, she co-founded Darlinghurst Resident Action Group. DRAG and Residents of Woolloomooloo (ROW) remain active today.

Writers:
Daniel Grafton
Date written:
2015
Last updated:
2015