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Sadler’s Wells East tapestry commission

The In Breath and The Out Breath by Eva Rothschild

Irish artist and East London local, Eva Rothschild was commissioned by Sadler’s Wells to create an original artwork for the new theatre, Sadler’s Wells East.

She felt strongly that tapestry, a medium she has previously worked in, alongside sculpture, would be right to create a warm welcome at the theatre given its architecture – by Sheila O’Donnell and John Tuomey – and the way the people would interact with the space.

Commission process

Rothschild was selected after winning a design competition whose panellists included Sadler’s Wells Co-Chief Executives Britannia Morton and Sir Alistair Spalding CBE, Director and Chief Executive of the Design Museum Tim Marlow and Architects of Sadler’s Wells East Sheila O’Donnell and John Tuomey.

About the tapestries

The two large tapestries, both 4 x 5 metres, were woven entirely by hand at West Dean College by a small team of weavers: Emma Straw, Jo Howard and Margaret Jones, overseen by Studio Manager Philip Sanderson.

West Dean College, established in the 1970s by Edward James, a passionate supporter of artists, has its own dye lab working to recipes unique to the college. The stunning colours in Rothschild’s tapestries were created specifically for her.

One of things that is unique to tapestry is that you never see the whole piece as it’s being made, you only ever see a metre of it at a time and then to get to that moment where it’s all rolled up and you cut it; heft it onto the table, and then pull it open, it’s like opening an amazing present.
Eva Rothschild

About the artist

Eva Rothschild was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1971. She lives and works in London. She received her BFA in 1993 from the University of Ulster, Belfast, and her MFA in 1999 from Goldsmiths College, London.

Solo exhibitions include: Modern Art, London (2022); the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, Melbourne (2018); the Nasher Sculpture Centre, Dallas (2012); the Whitechapel Gallery, London (2012); Kunstverein Hannover, Hanover (2011); Public Art Fund, New York (2011); and Kunsthalle Zürich (2004).

In 2009, she became the sixth artist to be awarded the prestigious Duveens Commission at Tate Britain, London. Her 2011 solo Hot Touch was the inaugural exhibition at The Hepworth Wakefield. In 2019, she represented Ireland at the 58th Venice Biennale. In 2026, Rothschild will be the subject of a solo exhibition at Fruitmarket, Edinburgh.

Rothschild’s works are held in public collections including the Arts Council Collection, London; the Columbus Museum of Art; the Dallas Museum of Art; MoMA, New York; Museum Voorlinden, Wassenaar; Tate, London; and the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis.

Header image © Peter Cook