The Winner of the 2025 Tapestry Design Prize

The Australian Tapestry Workshop has announced Troy Emery + COX Architecture as the winner of the 2025 Tapestry Design Prize, with their collaborative work Longing (Camilla) selected from an impressive field of finalists. Chosen by a distinguished Jury of design leaders — Sally Evans (Nexus Designs), Cassie Hansen (InteriorsAU) and Patrick Kennedy (Kennedy Nolan) — the winning tapestry takes home the $5,000 prize for its innovation, craftsmanship and nuanced dialogue with Robin Boyd’s iconic Boyd House II.

Jury Statement

“The jury unanimously awarded Longing (Camilla) by Troy Emery and COX Architecture the 2025 Tapestry Design Prize for its authentic innovation and deep connection with Robin Boyd as a visionary himself. Reimagining the possibilities of tapestry, the work could exist only in woven form, not as painting or print. Thoughtfully positioned within the living room, its texture, scale and tones harmonise with Boyd’s architecture. Inspired by the home’s former resident cat, Camilla, the piece is both conceptually rich and beautifully executed by weaver Saffron Gordon – a striking evolution of the medium.” — The Jury: Sally Evans (Nexus Designs), Cassie Hansen (InteriorsAU) and Patrick Kennedy (Kennedy Nolan)

Artist Statement

“It’s been a privilege to collaborate with COX Architecture and the Australian Tapestry Workshop on a project that celebrates materiality and tapestry practice. Having the work exhibited at Boyd House II, an icon of Australian design, makes the experience even more special. This collaboration came about after meeting with Marc on the completion of Guardian Lion, my 2025 public artwork installed on the facade of Melbourne Square, a COX Architecture project in Southbank. I very much enjoyed being able to marry my sculpture practice with COX’s in-depth knowledge of the history of Robin Boyd, that’s why we decided to reference the space as fundamentally being a family home and bringing a ‘pet’ into the space.” — Artist Troy Emery

“Interpreting Troy and the COX team’s design in tapestry was such an exciting challenge. There were plenty of technical hurdles along the way, but I loved every moment of bringing their vision into the woven medium.” — Saffron Gordon, Weaver of the winning work

Events

• Exhibition at Boyd House II / Walsh Street: Friday 14 – Sunday 16 November 2025
• In Conversation: Jack MacRae + Amy Cornall — Sat 15 Nov, 11:00am
• In Conversation: Troy Emery + Marc Raszewski — Sun 16 Nov, 2:00pm

Awards

• Winner: $5,000
• Finalists: $1,000 each
• People’s Choice: $1,000

About the Prize

Established in 2015 by the internationally renowned Australian Tapestry Workshop (ATW), the Tapestry Design Prize (TDP) is one of Australia’s most visually rich and intriguing design awards, celebrating the intersection of architecture, interior design and contemporary textile art. Each iteration responds to a specific site, creating a unique dialogue between the built environment and textile art, and redefining how we think about materiality, collaboration and the handmade in contemporary design. In 2025, the focus turns to the iconic Boyd House II / Walsh Street, designed by celebrated Australian architect Robin Boyd.

The Winning Work

Title: Longing (Camilla)
Designed by: Troy Emery + COX Architecture
Woven by: Saffron Gordon
Designed in response to the 2025 Tapestry Design Prize brief of Boyd House II / Walsh Street for Site 2: Lounge Room.

Quick Facts

• 275 hours to weave
• 27 colours of yarn dyed onsite at ATW’s Dye Lab
• 6km of Australian wool used

Technical Description

This tapestry is a uniquely three-dimensional sculptural relief, created through layered rya knots that build form and texture across its surface. Rya knots are a traditional weaving technique made by looping short lengths of yarn around warp threads, leaving loose ends that form a soft, highly textured surface. Lengths of yarn extend beyond the frame, cascading downward towards the floor and visually extending the tapestry’s form into the surrounding space.

Artist’s Statement

Longing (Camilla) is a two-dimensional interpretation of Troy Emery’s 2024 sculpture Lupa, an amorphous animal-like companion. In the domestic site of Walsh Street, Camilla echoes Boyd family life with their pet cat of the same name. The excess tendrils of yarn drip down out of the plane of the woven surface towards the floor, stretching the silhouette of the animal figure and evoking emotion and memory.

About the Winners

Troy Emery is a Melbourne artist whose sculptural work using textiles blurs boundaries between fine art, museums, natural history, craft and domestic settings. Represented by Michael Reid Gallery, his work is held in public collections across Australia.
www.troyemery.net @troyemery

COX Architecture is built “By the Many, For the Many”. The practice undertakes projects of international significance, from celebrated public buildings to intimate venues. With each typology, COX creates space for artists to showcase work of various styles and form.
www.coxarchitecture.com.au @coxarchitecture

The Tapestry Design Prize is supported by Metal Manufacturers Limited, with project partners Robin Boyd Foundation, Nexus Designs, Architecture Media and Envelope Group.

More information: austapestry.com.au