Therese Weber (b. 1953, Switzerland) has been a pioneering force in European PaperArt since the early 1980s. Her engagement with the medium began in the United States during a period of renewed international attention toward paper as an artistic material. Extended working stays in Japan and research journeys to China and the Far East profoundly shaped her practice and deepened her dialogue with Asian cultural traditions.
At the center of Weber's work lies paper in its manifold forms, alongside photography and drawing. Combining cultural history, natural science, and technical experimentation, she has developed a distinctive visual language. Her hand-moulded paper pulp dissolves the boundary between image and object, with fracture and material transformation becoming defining elements of her oeuvre. This technique is rooted in her intensive study of traditional papermaking, particularly in Japan and China.
In recent works, textual inscriptions increasingly enter the surface, reflecting cultural memory and civilizational narratives. Weber's practice interweaves fundamental themes, transferring the meaning of traditional materials into a contemporary context while opening new perspectives on social and cultural structures.
A founding member and former president (1992-1996) of the International Association of Hand Papermakers and Paper Artists (IAPMA), Weber has played a decisive role in establishing PaperArt in Europe. She was Professor of Design and Art at the FHNW University of Applied Sciences and Arts Basel until 2018 and has lectured and conducted workshops internationally.
Her work has been presented in numerous international exhibitions, including Constellations - Aspects of Contemporary Swiss Art in Japan, Taiwan, and the USA, as well as solo exhibitions at the National Museum Yerevan, MoMA Tbilisi, and the Rayko Alexiev Gallery in Sofia. She has received awards such as the PaperArt Prize at the Leopold-Hoesch-Museum in Düren and the Japan Paper Academy Award in Imadate. Her works are held in public institutions and private collections worldwide.
Weber lives and works in Arlesheim near Basel.