We were lucky to catch up with Carrie Burckle recently and have shared our conversation below.
Carrie, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
The most meaningful project I worked on was creating the Arts Organization Textile Arts LA. Prior to forming Textile Arts LA I had an urge and a vision to create a space for like minded textile artists where we could gather together to share facilities, teach classes and hold artists talks. My inspirations were the Textile Center in Minneapolis and the Fabric Workshop and Museum in Philadelphia. After attending workshops at Penland and Haystack, both well known craft schools I had a desire to create something similar here in Los Angeles. Los Angeles has a fashion manufacturing hub, plenty of fabric stores, fashion design programs and textile artists, crafters, designers, and enthusiasts. We were a desperate community that lacked a center.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
About Me
I’m a textile artist, educator, curator, and community builder who founded Textile Arts LA, a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing together textile artists and enthusiasts across Los Angeles.
The Beginning
After earning my MFA in Fibers from California State University Long Beach, I felt a strong desire to connect with other textile artists. Inspired by organizations like the Art Fabric Workshop and Museum and the Minnesota Textile Center, I wanted to create something similar in Los Angeles. In 2015, I teamed up with fellow textile artists Cameron Taylor-Brown and Lori Zimmerman—all of us members of California Fibers, a professional group of fiber artists from San Diego—to make this vision a reality.
Our Evolution
What started as Textile Arts Center LA has evolved through several iterations:
2015-2018: The Early Days
We launched with a passionate board of advisors including artists, educators, curators, and museum directors. Our enthusiasm was building momentum when a chance meeting at a Surface Design Association conference in Tennessee changed everything. There, Cameron and I met Lesley Roberts, a strategic marketing professional from Culver City who shared our passion for textiles.
2018-2024: Growing Together
This serendipitous connection led to our transformation into Textile Arts Los Angeles LLC. With Lesley as Executive Director and artist-researcher Aneesa Shami joining as our third partner, we built a thriving community of 200 members and 9,000 Instagram followers.
Today: A True Nonprofit
In 2025, we officially became Textile Arts LA, a nonprofit arts organization. We’re now governed by a dedicated board committed to our growth and sustainability. Our mission remains the same as it was ten years ago: inspiring, connecting, and championing the textile arts community through innovative programming, inclusive environments, skill-building, resource sharing, and supporting our members’ artistic growth.
What We Do
We create unique programming that brings our community together, including:
• Partnerships with prestigious institutions like Craft in America Center, Craft Contemporary Museum, the Fowler Textile Council at UCLA’s Fowler Museum, and the Wende Museum
• Quarterly Textile Slams where community members give informal talks about their projects and practices—a perfect opportunity to network and find inspiration
• Biannual Material Swaps where we exchange excess studio materials (our recent event at MorYork Studio in Highland Park was a huge success!)
• Workshops, artist talks, studio tours, and meetups that foster learning and connection
Looking Forward
Our dream is to one day have our own brick-and-mortar facility where our community can gather, create, and grow together. Until then, we’re grateful for our partnerships throughout Los Angeles that help us continue building this vibrant textile arts community.
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What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
Creating Textile Arts LA has enriched my creative life beyond measure by fulfilling my deep longing for community with fellow artists. The most rewarding aspect has been discovering how much we learn from each other through countless teachable moments and meaningful connections. When I stepped into leading this nonprofit—a role that initially felt uncomfortable—I realized I couldn’t achieve this dream alone. Asking for help became transformative, connecting me with capable, generous people who shared their knowledge, expertise, and inspiration. Through three decades of teaching, I’ve learned that being in service to others while remaining a lifelong learner creates the richest, most gratifying experiences. What makes this community so powerful is that we all share the fundamental human need for acceptance and growth. In those small moments of connection, surrounded by people who understand the creative drive, I’ve found not just artistic enrichment but the support to become both a better artist and leader.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
I don’t consider myself an entrepreneur with a particular management style. As an artist, educator, and community builder, my approach is inherently collaborative. I seek support from other artists and experts, building bridges and making connections rather than working in isolation. I believe in taking baby steps with new ventures, much like the weaving process—creating something whole one thread at a time. It’s slow work, but the satisfaction of completion gives me confidence for the next project. As artist Ann Hamilton says, I give myself permission to discover the “What Ifs.”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.carrieburckle.com, https://www.textileartsla.org,
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carrieburckle/. https://www.instagram.com/textileartsla/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carrieburckle. https://www.facebook.com/textileartsla
