PRESS & BIO
Cover Magazine Issue #79 Women's Voices
Cover Magazine Issue #79 Women's Voices Fearture
Canvas Rebel Interview
Contemporary Art Curator Magazine Profile 2025
Cocoa & Jasmine Magazine Profile 2024
Cocoa & Jasmine Magazine Profile 2024
Cocoa & Jasmine Magazine Profile 2024
California Home & Design Magazine mention
The Textile Eye Designer Profile 2020
The Textile Eye Casa Muñiz Design Profile 2020
The Textile Eye Casa Muñiz Design Profile
Interior Design Magazine Fall Tabloid 2017
Dwell Magazine mention 2013
Rug Insider Magazine feature 2013
Elle Decor UK mention 2017
Cover Magazine Peace Industry profile 2013
An Ancient Craft Goes Fair Trade. Design Within Reach Featured Collaborator. 2008
Dwell Magazine Box rug mention 2013
7x7 Magazine profile 2008
Metropolis Magazine mention 2008
Metropolis Magazine mention 2008
Sunset Magazine 2005 Designer Profile
For immediate release 9/10/2026
Melina’s Murals Against Artist Trafficking
In 2024 Peace Industry was awarded a Dezeen Shortlist award. It is publicly well known that I invented Peace Industry and served as the only and lead designer during the years of its US operation from 2002 until it closed in 2019 and that Peace Industry has always functioned as the platform representing my art career. I am extremely proud of my extraordinary accomplishments.
However, my status as a trafficking survivor means that I receive no royalties and have no way to accept or access any reward or benefit from recognition of my life's work. Instead, my trafficker, who operates in multiple foreign countries is getting sole credit. In response to this international campaign of cruelty, erasure and punishment for being an artist I am using what is left of my voice to express my strong objections and concerns that this is normalizing the exploitation, specifically of women designers who endure acute vulnerability within their professional communities. Our roles as Mothers and Wives should not be used as reasons to disenfranchise us from the careers we built in community and in good faith that social contracts protect us from violence at work.
The public deserves to know that I was never safe at work, that I screamed for help and that no one came. I will be rotating Melina’s Mural Against Trafficking in this press release every week until my erasure ends and accountability begins. I expect apologies and demand accountability.
September 23rd, 2025
CONTACT: MELINA FINKELSTEIN, MELINA@MELINAFINKELSTEIN.COM
MELINA FINKELSTEIN, BAY AREA ARTIST AND RUG DESIGNER TO EXHIBIT AT CARPET DIEM PARIS 2025
23 - 26 October 2025
Espace Commines - PARIS during Art Basel and Design Miami.
CARPET DIEM, an ART & DESIGN event in Paris.
The third edition of “Carpet Diem” will be held in Paris, 23-26 October 2025, at Espace Commines, during Art Basel and Design Miami.
This hymn to contemporary textile creation is open to professionals and the general public.
40 rugs and tapestries will be presented in the form of a labyrinth designed by scenographer Hervé Sauvage.
Independent artists as well as established brands from 12 different countries will reveal their current textile creations, combining various techniques, materials and textures.
Certain exhibiting artists were present to interact with visitors.
A book bringing together all works will be printed for the occasion.
Melina Finkelstein will exhibit two new felt rug designs under her eponymous solo brand, Melina Finkelstein Rug Co.Labs: Carmen and Girlfriend. Both designs are derivatives of original paintings by Finkelstein.
Melina Finkelstein is an Oakland-based non-objective painter, rug designer and producer who paints on fabric and wood, weaves tapestries out of old paintings and collaborates with heritage rug makers in Mexico and Nepal to make one-of-a-kind custom wool felt, hand knotted and flat weave area rugs based on her archive of original artwork.
Selected Bio
1992 Received a BFA from The School of The Art Institute of Chicago
2024 Renewal of the legacy Peace Industry (R) brand with an all-woman team in Kathmandu, Nepal trained by Finkelstein. peaceindustryrugs.com
2022 Established the Melina Finkelstein Gallery located in Oakland, CA to showcase artwork by Finkelstein and artists who explore textile-based mediums.
2020 Established a partnership with master Oaxacan weaver,Alejandro Gonzalez to produce flat weave rugs designed by Finkelstein.
2018 Invited to speak to The Friends of Islamic Art at The Metropolitan Museum of Art NY about the Peace Industry felt project in Iran.
2002- 2019 Co-founded and served as the lead designer and creative director of Peace Industry INC, a boutique rug company that specialized in felted wool rugs made in Iran designed by Finkelstein. Peace Industry INC was shuttered after US/Iran trade sanctions which ended all trade with Iran. Noteworthy collaborators include: Heath Ceramics, Steelcase, Alison Damonte Design. While in operation Peace Industry opened three retail locations in the Bay Area, two stores in Stockholm, Sweden and production facilities in Iran and Turkey.
‘95-2000 Red Hook, NY, Established an art practice and studio while working as a fit consultant to the fashion industry.
Noteworthy Collectors: Agnes Gund, Jack Hanley, Eleanore Harwood, Barry McGee, Matt Gonzalez