Woman of Power

 Beezy Bailey Artwork Reimagined as Hand-Embroidered Rug for Auction Supporting Craft School South Africa.

Cape Town, South Africa – 2026

An exciting collaboration between one of South Africa’s most celebrated artists and Cape Looms, a women-led artisanal collective produced a unique textile artwork that was auctioned by Strauss, with all proceeds donated to Craft School South Africa.

Renowned artist Beezy Bailey generously donated his 1987 sketch Woman of Power to be reinterpreted as a hand-embroidered rug by the women of Cape Looms. The project brings together fine art, traditional craft, and social impact. The rug is a celebration of the enduring relevance of hand-made practices in contemporary culture, created as a specifically South African multidisciplinary artwork that entwines our multi-cultural perspective.

The collaboration between Cape Looms and Beezy Bailey is grounded in a shared belief in storytelling through making, and in the power of craft as a reflection of everyday life. Both approach their work as a creative response to the world around them, rooted in collaboration, process, and human connection.

Bailey personally selected the colour palette for the embroidery, which is executed in hand-spun and hand-dyed merino wool on a base of flatweave golden Lox mohair, resulting in a richly textured work that bridges drawing, textile, and sculpture.

All proceeds benefiting Craft School South Africa, a newly established non-profit artisanal skills school that opened in Cape Town in February 2026.

The size of the rug is 312cm x 253cm.