Odabashian is honored to announce that Echoic I, a hand-knotted rug by Little Wing Lee, has been acquired by the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, and it’s now part of its permanent collection.
Created in 2023, Echoic I emerged from a collaboration between Studio & Projects and Odabashian, translating Lee’s exploration of abstraction into a handwoven textile. Drawing from the visual languages of West African and African American textiles, as well as the work of modernists including Felrath Hines, Paul Klee, and Ruth Asawa, the composition balances structured grids with organic rhythms and asymmetrical forms.
Handcrafted in India using the Persian knot technique and hand-spun New Zealand wool, the rug reflects a shared commitment to material integrity and enduring craftsmanship.
Echoic I is currently on view in Reset: Abstraction Embodied in Design at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Bringing together furniture, lighting, and textiles, the exhibition considers how abstraction shapes contemporary design while tracing its connections to the visual traditions of the African diaspora.
The acquisition places Echoic I within a collection dedicated to preserving the histories and cultural contributions of African American artists, designers, and makers, recognizing the role of contemporary textile practice within this ongoing dialogue.
Studio & Projects
In 2019, award-winning interior designer Little Wing Lee founded her design practice, Studio & Projects. She also publicly launched Black Folks in Design. BFiD is a collective that networks Black designers, within and across design disciplines and artistic practices, to support each other and share professional opportunities. Highlighting the contributions and importance of Black designers to a wider community, and the endeavor to create economic and portfolio-building opportunities for Black designers.
