Amanda Rataj is an artist, weaver, and arts educator based in Ontario with a BFA from the Ontario College of Art and Design University. She is a Contract Lecturer in Toronto Metropolitan University’s School of Fashion, and an art educator at the Art Gallery of Ontario.

I work with traditional weaving techniques to explore abstract ideas such as place, colour, and form. My craft practice can be broken down into three key areas: material, pattern, and practice. 

I use natural materials like wool, cotton, and linen to create textiles that engage with regional textile systems and craft heritage. Choosing these fibres creates a distinct materiality that engages both the eyes and the hand, and has allowed me to build relationships with local farmers and producers.

Through pattern, my work often engages with marks and shapes like squares, lines, and grids. Using tools like colour and repetition allows me to ask creative questions from my materials and make work that actively responds to my environment.

Lastly, my practice is outwardly focused on education, especially towards amateur makers. I regularly teach workshops at the Art Gallery of Burlington and publish my textile design online and with Gist Yarn and Fibre (Boston, USA) and VÄV Magasinet (Sweden). In fall 2026, I will be publishing my first weaving book with Gather Press in Edmonton, Stripe Lab.