The Chicago Art Institute is displaying recent textile acquisitions through September 5, 2016. The exhibition includes both contemporary and historical works. Here are a few of the pieces I found most interesting:

Michael Olszewski's layered structures are reminiscent of scrapbook pages, combining text and text references with bits of cloth on knitted grounds.

Francisco Toledo combines humor and pattern in this lazer-cut felt puzzle.

Lissy Funk embroiders mysterious letter-like symbols over landscape topography:

Of course, I'm drawn to the work that references text, includes pattern, and entices the viewer with ambiguous imagery that seems just outside my understanding.