Heavy Metal tapestry

Truly an ode to the hardware isle. A favourite.

Heavy Metal Tapestry is a gallery-scale sculptural tapestry conceived by Indigenous artist and designer Ashley J MacDonald (Cayuga/Austrian). Crafted entirely from industrial hardware, this woven “rug” form reimagines the Haudenosaunee tradition of weaving—in which storytelling, materiality, and communal methods are central—as a modern, abstract reflection.

In Haudenosaunee culture, weaving has long served as both practical craft and cultural expression—used in basketry, ceremonial textiles, and objects imbued with symbolism and story. With Heavy Metal Tapestry, modern materials are layered into this tradition: steel, bolts, and fasteners become threads in a compelling visual allegory of identity, resilience, and contemporary Indigenous artistry.

The piece acts as an abstract self-portrait, positioning MacDonald as a “modern maker” weaving legacy and innovation. It invites dialogue between ancestral craft practices and today’s industrial aesthetics, bridging past and present through form, texture, and concept.