Cultural Council weaves fiber and innovation at 'Fiber Optics' exhibition

Lynn Doyal’s Root 2 combines acrylic paint with delicately hand-stitched fiber threads to create a dynamic fusion of texture and color. [Photo by Cultural Council for Palm Beach County]

The Cultural Council for Palm Beach County has kicked off the season with Fiber Optics, a showcase of 20 Palm Beach County-based artists who turn thread, fabric, and texture into fine art. The exhibition runs through Jan. 3 at the Council’s headquarters in Lake Worth Beach.

Fiber Optics transforms traditional fiber techniques into contemporary statements about identity, storytelling, and innovation. Visitors will experience an array of styles including delicate weavings, bold textile sculptures, intricate embroidery, and mixed-media works.

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“Today’s fiber artists are pushing the boundaries of the medium—challenging viewers to think differently about what fine art can be,” says Jessica Ransom, the Cultural Council’s director of artist services and exhibition curator.

Gin Blische’s Helena’s Lament is crafted from needle-felted sheep’s wool, transforming soft natural fibers into a deeply expressive work of art. [Photo by Cultural Council for Palm Beach County]

The exhibition features a dynamic lineup of Palm Beach County’s most inspired creative professionals, including Cultural Council Artist Innovation Fellows Isabel Gouveia, Amy Gross, and Gillian Kennedy Wright. Other exhibiting artists include Diane Arrieta, Gin Blische, Barbara Cheives, Dana Donaty, Lynn M. Doyal, Michelle S. Drummond, Johanna Fox, Manuela Gonzalez, Lisa MacNamara, Kristin Miller, Jennifer Noelle, Kerri On, Quimetta Perle, Hayley Sheldon, Christopher Staples, Pamela Tatti, and members of the Palm Beach Quilters Guild.

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Collectively, their works highlight the incredible range of artistic voices thriving right here in Palm Beach County—from emerging artists to celebrated names.

Running concurrently, the Council’s Donald M. Ephraim Family Gallery will host Woven, a smaller companion exhibition that explores paper-based techniques inspired by traditional fiber arts. These works blur the line between paper and textile, offering a fresh perspective on texture, layering, and craftsmanship. Woven will also remain on view through Jan. 3.

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Founded on the belief that art connects and uplifts communities, the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County serves as a hub for local artists and audiences.

Fiber Optics is sponsored by the Tourist Development Council, the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners, the Florida Division of Arts & Culture, Florida Weekly, and WLRN.