York University
Art Collection Online

Charlotte Lindgren (1931–2023) was a highly regarded Canadian artist whose pioneering techniques in weaving and sculpture were widely celebrated. Lindgren was also an installation artist, photographer, public garden activist, teacher, and curator. Her weaving differed from traditional methods as she utilized unique materials and a creative approach to three-dimensional shapes. Lindgren developed a specialized loom with 16 harnesses and two back tension beams for greater freedom to experiment beyond standard looms. Her installation of Winter Tree, 1965, featured at Expo 67, reflected her interest in architecture.

Born in Toronto, Ontario, Lindgren received a BSc in Wisconsin before moving to Winnipeg in 1956. While there, she worked as a part-time Design instructor at the University of Manitoba. In 1964, she won a scholarship to the Haystack Mountain School of Crafts in Deer Isle, Maine, where she impressed Jack Lenor Larsen with her original work and received an 8-harness loom to take with her to her new home in Halifax. Her sculptural weaving work took fine art weaving in a new direction with its three-dimensionality. In 1965, the artist received a scholarship from the Canada Council for the Arts to visit weavers in Finland, Sweden, and England. In 1978, she traveled to Pangnirtung, Baffin Island, as a visiting artist for the Canada Council. From 1978 to 1981, she served as an art consultant for the Pangnirtung Tapestry Studio, where she encouraged new artists and introduced a numbered-edition system.

Lindgren curated Knot, a 1997 exhibition at the Mary E. Black Gallery in Halifax. The exhibition featured a living knot garden and invited viewer participation. Lindgren also taught and guest lectured at various institutions and held leadership roles in arts organizations. She represented Canada twice at the Lausanne International Tapestry Biennial, 1967 and 1969, and taught at the Banff Centre in the 1970s. She was a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts.