Barbara Zaretsky is a fiber artist and the director of Cloth Fiber Workshop. Originally from the Chicago area, she studied textile design at Northern Illinois University and the Art Institute of Chicago, and Art History at the University of Illinois. In 2001 she moved to Asheville, became a member of the Southern Highland Craft Guild and continued her education at Penland School of Crafts. Zaretsky has operated BZDesign, a textile design and manufacturing company, for over 20 years. In her line of home furnishings and wearable accessories she incorporates organic and sustainable materials.

“I’ve always been fascinated with textiles and the influence they have on our culture. Inspired by the things around me—color, movement, light, nature, architecture and design—I am moved to create art for everyday use. Functional textiles can enhance our lives in subtle yet powerful ways—from expressing who we are to communicating emotion”.