Ruth Adler Schnee with Slits and Slats, 1947. Courtesy Edward and Ruth Adler Schnee Papers, Cranbrook Archives.

As part of the Ann Arbor Fiber Arts Expo 2026 (AAFAX): Join art historian Deborah Lubera Kawsky to celebrate the life, career, and enduring legacy of Detroit design icon–and dear friend–Ruth Adler Schnee, who was a driving force in modern design for eight decades. Adler Schnee’s life story is inspirational, encompassing her escape from Nazi Germany, her ground-breaking studies at Cranbrook Art Academy, and, together with her husband Eddie, the establishment of Adler-Schnee, Detroit’s first modern design store. She is best known today for her boldly colored, pattern-rich textiles and her interior designs for both private and public spaces, from the Ford Rotunda to the World Trade Center. 

This event is part of the 2026 Ann Arbor Fiber Arts Expo. For a full list of events and vendors, go to aadl.org/aafax.

FREE and open to the public

The Library will be providing a live stream of this event in real-time. A video player will appear on the library website one hour before the start of the event and be removed at the conclusion of our event.

Deborah Lubera Kawsky with Ruth Adler Schnee and Susan Skarsgard at Alexander Girard Architect book launch, DIA 2018

Ruth Adler Schnee, Threads Textile.