Public & Corporate Commissions
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Throughout her career, Dena Dale Crain has created commissioned textile artworks for private collectors, cultural institutions, and corporate clients. Her commissioned pieces are designed not only to complement architectural spaces, but also to reflect the history, atmosphere, and cultural identity of the environments in which they are installed.
Working closely with clients, Dena develops original textile works that balance visual impact, craftsmanship, and storytelling. Many of her commissions incorporate hand-dyed fabrics, beadwork, found materials, and layered surface design inspired by her decades living and working in Kenya. |
Nairobi Serena Hotel
The Axum Bar
The Nairobi Serena Hotel commissioned a series of four textile panels to conceal storage cupboard doors within the Axum Bar.
Each panel measured 72" high by 21" wide and was constructed from silk dupioni cut on the bias, then embellished with decorative tapes and beadwork. Mounted on brass rods, the four works were designed as a unified series while maintaining distinct individual identities.
The pieces were named after four historic Ethiopian cities: Axum, Gondar, Harar, and Lalibela. The finished installation transformed a practical architectural necessity into an integrated decorative feature within the bar’s interior.
Each panel measured 72" high by 21" wide and was constructed from silk dupioni cut on the bias, then embellished with decorative tapes and beadwork. Mounted on brass rods, the four works were designed as a unified series while maintaining distinct individual identities.
The pieces were named after four historic Ethiopian cities: Axum, Gondar, Harar, and Lalibela. The finished installation transformed a practical architectural necessity into an integrated decorative feature within the bar’s interior.
Rockefeller Foundation -- Nairobi Offices
The Rockefeller Foundation commissioned four large-scale textile works for its Nairobi offices.
Working in consultation with a professor from the University of Nairobi, Dena developed themes reflecting Kenyan culture, leadership, urban transformation, and contemporary social concerns. Each work was designed specifically for its architectural setting and color environment within the offices.
Working in consultation with a professor from the University of Nairobi, Dena developed themes reflecting Kenyan culture, leadership, urban transformation, and contemporary social concerns. Each work was designed specifically for its architectural setting and color environment within the offices.
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Jua Kali (Hot Sun)
79" × 32"Hand-dyed cottons, synthetic fabrics, paint, beadwork, machine piecing, appliqué, and quilting. Inspired by the heat and atmosphere of the East African savannah, Jua Kali explores color, texture, and movement associated with the Kenyan landscape. |
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Guardian
79" × 19" Hand-dyed and printed cottons, leather, beads, and quilting. Created in honor of Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya’s first president, Guardian reflects themes of protection, leadership, and national memory. |
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Conversation Piece
79" × 36" Commercial and hand-dyed cotton fabrics, mirrors, metal chains, quilting, and hand embellishment. Designed for a quiet seating area within the offices, this piece was intended to encourage reflection and informal conversation through layered texture and reflective surfaces. |
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The Future Is Now
79" × 19" Silk fabrics, recycled computer components, glass rings, holographic ribbon, paillettes, and beadwork. This work examines the growing presence of discarded technology and plastic waste in urban Nairobi, combining recycled materials with richly embellished textile surfaces. |
For information regarding commissions, exhibitions, or acquisitions, please contact Dena directly.