About me
Heasoon Arzberger Rhee creates one of a kind pieces that celebrate color and are grounded in a dedication to fine design and craftsmanship. Each work reflects Heasoon’s commitment to the complete craft of weaving from transforming inspiration into weave pattern, selecting color and fiber, and dyeing yarns, to designing the structure and weaving the piece. Her works all reflect her value of simplicity and serenity.
Heasoon was born and raised in South Korea. In 1980 she moved to the United States as a student. After finishing her Ph.D. degree in textile science from University of Wisconsin-Madison, she worked as a textile chemist for a research institute, a chemical company and a museum. During these years, she learned the nature and interplay of fibers and developed her passion for weaving.
Her journey involves working on both a traditional shaft loom and a modern digital Jacquard loom, each offering a unique creative experience. With the shaft loom, she focuses on precision and geometry, carefully weaving intricate designs on a canvas of meticulously prepared warp. To achieve the desired color palettes, she blends hand-dyed yarn with commercially dyed ones, adding a special touch to to each piece. In 2018, she expanded her artistic horizons by incorporating a digital weaving loom into her process. This involved transforming rough sketches or intricate photographs into weaving patterns through the use of Photoshop. The endless design possibilities presented by this method have been both challenging and rewarding for her.
One of Heasoon’s most memorable projects was weaving 50 yards of silk fabric for her mother’s burial shroud, typically prepared by Korean children while their parents are still alive. Through this experience Heasoon discovered a joy in weaving with silk. Since then it has become her fiber of choice for its feel and its light refraction qualities. Heasoon often blends other natural and innovative yarns into her pieces. Heasoon’s pieces have been seen in museums and galleries throughout the country. Rob Sidner, Director of San Diego Mingei International Museum said “her exquisite piece is beautifully designed and well made for purpose.”
Her studio is located in the Torpedo Factory, Alexandria, VA. She welcomes visitors to her studio.
