About
Keiko Amenomori-Schmeisser
1949 — 2026
Keiko was a Japanese-born textile artist distinguished for her innovative synthesis of traditional craftsmanship and contemporary expression. Her work redefined the boundaries of textile art, weaving together heritage and modernity.
Keiko Amenomori Schmeisser (21 December 1949 – 2026) was a Japanese-born Australian textile artist whose work united traditional Japanese techniques with a contemporary artistic vision. Renowned for her mastery of shibori, the ancient art of resist dyeing, she devoted more than four decades to creating textiles inspired by nature, craftsmanship, and the cultural connections between Japan and Australia.
Born in Nishinomiya, Japan, Keiko spent her childhood between Japan and Germany, where her father's work in Mitsubishi's textile department introduced her to the beauty of fine fabrics. His travels through Europe often brought home embroidered linens, delicate lace, and exceptional textiles that sparked her lifelong fascination with cloth and design.
In 1972, Keiko married master printmaker and artist Jörg Schmeisser. They shared 40 wonderful years together until Jörg's passing in 2012. In 1978, the couple moved to Canberra when Jörg accepted a position at the Australian National University, and Canberra remained Keiko's home for the rest of her life.
Throughout her career, Keiko exhibited internationally and her work became part of major public collections in Australia, Japan, and Germany. Equally passionate about teaching, she generously shared her knowledge through workshops and community projects, inspiring generations of textile artists.
This website celebrates Keiko's life, her art, and the legacy she leaves behind, a legacy of creativity, generosity, and a deep appreciation for the beauty of nature and textiles.
AWARDS
2004 Arts ACT, quick response grant to participate in Intermesh Symposium Melbourne
2001 Australia Council Grant, Australia Council for the Arts, production of new works for a solo exhibition
2001 Arts ACT, 2002 Project Funding Round, presentation and promotion for a solo exhibition CAPO (Capital Arts Patron’s Organization) Grant
2001 Design Award, National Association of Women in Construction, NSW Dep. of Public Works & Services
2000 Art and Architecture Award, The Royal Australian Institute of Architects ACT
1999 Australia Council Grant, Visual Arts/Craft Group Development Fund to participate in the 3rd International Shibori Symposium, Santiago, Chile
1997 7th National Craft Acquisition Award, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory
1997 Arts ACT Professional Development Fund to participate in Shibori Masterclass, Mittagong, NSW
1996 Australia Council Grant, Professional Development Fund to participate in the 2nd International Shibori Symposium, Ahmedabad, India
1994 The Canberra Critics Circle Award, Visual Arts
PUBLICATIONS
2004 My work in Australia, Senshoku @, Textile magazine, Kyoto
2003 With the Flow, Against the Grain, catalogue, ISBN 0 9750046 1 1
2000 Design on the Big Screen, MUSE, Canberra’s Arts Monthly, No.200
1998 Textile Forums in Australia, Senshoku @, Textile magazine, No. 211, Kyoto, Japan
1998 Flowers and Fruits of the Bush, catalogue, Canberra & Nara
1994 A Long Way, Textile Fibre Forum, Vol.13, Issue 2 No.40