05 - Rachel Curley, Rug

Rachel Curley
Native American, 1921 - 2000

Rug
1960
Wool
Gift of Dr. Darwin Goodey
1998.4

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Rachel Curley is a Navajo artist who was born in 1921 and introduced to weaving rugs at an early age. She grew up in New Mexico and lived there until her death in 2000. Curley wove each rug using her own spun yarn, and her rugs became well known in the 1940s and 50s for the craftsmanship and exquisite quality.

The Navajo weaving tradition known as Two Grey Hills rugs, are known for their muted colors, as the weavers use only undyed wool to create elaborate geometric patterns and distinctive borders. Curley’s rugs followed this tradition, and in 1957 she was commissioned to create a series of Two Grey Hills rugs. One of those rugs is known to be the largest rug ever created in the Two Grey Hills style. It took over three years to create and measured 17 x 11 feet when finished.