Where Wings Tangle: An Ode To Rugs

R:DESIGN unveils ‘Where Wings Tangle: An Ode to Rugs’, a new exhibition by Creative Director Robyn Waffle. Presented in their dynamic, European-inspired showroom, Robyn’s dimensional artwork explores the quiet tension between where we have been and where we are going — each piece a poetic reflection of her passion for rugs.

Building on the work she debuted at Artist Project in May 2025, Robyn Waffle continues her exploration of rug design as an art form and pays homage to the skilled Nepali weavers she has been collaborating with for over a decade. The R:DESIGN showroom — her second home and a true #rugwonderland — provides the perfect setting for this tribute.

The artist weaves together plexiglass, mirror, and hand-spun yarns from Nepal. The wool and silk yarns hold warmth, tradition, and care, while the mirror and plexiglass reflect a colder, fast-moving, manufactured world. Wrapping yarns around the sharp edges of the glass becomes a meditative act in repair — like stitching a modern wound, while honouring the past.

‘Where Wings Tangle: An Ode to Rugs’ is a celebration of texture and reflection — a homage to an ancient craft and cross-cultural collaboration — where playful artwork meets luxurious rug design to create a transformative experience within Toronto’s most intriguing showroom.

“For about fourteen years, I’ve been translating my illustrations, collages, and paintings into my rug designs that are hand-knotted in Nepal. In my latest series ‘Where Wings Tangle’ I bring the process full circle – incorporating the same wool and silk yarns used in my rugs, back into my artwork as embroidered elements. My rugs inspire my art, and then my art inspires my rugs. I find my practice helps me stay grounded in a craft that has shaped my livelihood, while paying tribute to the weavers I’ve been collaborating with for over a decade.”

— ROBYN WAFFLE