Ruth Adler Schnee’s upbringing features a cast of design icons. Her mother studied at the Bauhaus, a revolutionary German design college, and she played in the studio of artist Paul Klee as a child. After fleeing Nazi Germany, Adler Schnee attended the Rhode Island School of Design and Cranbrook Art Academy. She even worked in Raymond Loewy’s office, where her desk was sandwiched between architect Minoru Yamasaki and designer Warren Plattner.

Trained as an interior architect, Adler Schnee made her foray into textile design while competing in the Chicago Tribune’s “Better Rooms for Better Living” competition. Unable to find appropriate fabrics to furnish the award-winning residence she designed, she created her own. Shaw, Ness & Murphy, an architectural firm, noticed the textiles and placed an order for them, effectively jump-starting Adler Schnee’s textile business.

With the funds for this initial order, Ruth Adler Schnee set up shop on 12th Street in Detroit. There, she taught herself how to screen print. She soon met Eddie Schnee, who became her husband and lifelong business partner. Eddie helped print Ruth’s textile designs and even invented whimsical names for them. They later opened Adler-Schnee Contemporary Home Furnishings in Detroit, which sold Ruth’s textiles as well as other contemporary wares.

Pins strewn about her sewing table. Snowflakes under a microscope. A stack of firewood. Adler Schnee took inspiration from the world around her, both the fantastic and the mundane. She created strikingly modern abstract and often organic forms. For this design, aptly named “Seedy Weeds” by her husband Eddie, Adler Schnee was motivated by – you guessed it – her personal garden.

Adler Schnee’s designs imbue a sense of joy. She once remarked, “I love clear, clean color. I find it uplifting. It gives people a feeling of well-being.” This love and appreciation for bold color shines through in her textiles, which are now fixtures in prominent museums across the globe and still enjoy commercial success through contemporary manufacturers.

Trained as an interior architect, Ruth Adler Schnee began her pioneering foray into textile design with an entry into the Chicago Tribune's "Better Rooms for Better Living" interior design competition. Unable to locate suitable fabrics, she designed her own and this ad hoc textile she designed drew attention. She promptly taught herself to screen print and began to sell her own designs.

A garden in need of weeding. Snowflakes under a microscope. A messy sewing table. Ruth Adler Schnee took inspiration from the world around her, both the fantastic and the mundane. She created strikingly modern abstract and often organic forms. For this design, named "Cordwood” by her husband Eddie, Adler Schnee was inspired silhouette of a stack of firewood.

A garden in need of weeding. Snowflakes under a microscope. A messy sewing table. Ruth Adler Schnee took inspiration from the world around her, both the fantastic and the mundane. She created strikingly modern abstract and often organic forms. For this design, named "Cordwood” by her husband Eddie, Adler Schnee was inspired silhouette of a stack of firewood.

Trained as an interior architect, Ruth Adler Schnee began her pioneering foray into textile design with an entry into the Chicago Tribune's "Better Rooms for Better Living" interior design competition. Unable to locate suitable fabrics, she designed her own and this ad hoc textile she designed drew attention. She promptly taught herself to screen print and began to sell her own designs.

Trained as an architect, Ruth Adler Schnee began her pioneering foray into textile design with an entry into the Chicago Tribune's "Better Rooms for Better Living" interior design competition. Unable to locate suitable fabrics, she designed her own. She promptly taught herself to screen print and began to sell her own designs. This design in particular has an architectural quality, referencing her architectural education.

Trained as an architect, Ruth Adler Schnee began her pioneering foray into textile design with an entry into the Chicago Tribune's "Better Rooms for Better Living" interior design competition. Unable to locate suitable fabrics, she designed her own. She promptly taught herself to screen print and began to sell her own designs. This design in particular has an architectural quality, referencing her architectural education.

Known for her organic inspiration and love of bold colors, pioneering textile artist Ruth Adler Schnee describes a complete design is one that really "sings." Her furnishing and drapery fabrics were favorites of everyday consumers and leading modern architects alike, including Minoru Yamasaki, Paul Rudolph, and Buckminster Fuller. Adler Schnee's designs are truly timeless -- many of them are still being manufactured today.

Known for her organic inspiration and love of bold colors, pioneering textile artist Ruth Adler Schnee describes a complete design is one that really "sings." Her furnishing and drapery fabrics were favorites of everyday consumers and leading modern architects alike, including Minoru Yamasaki, Paul Rudolph, and Buckminster Fuller. Adler Schnee's designs are truly timeless -- many of them are still being manufactured today.

Trained as an architect, Ruth Adler Schnee began her pioneering foray into textile design with an entry into the Chicago Tribune's "Better Rooms for Better Living" interior design competition. Unable to locate suitable fabrics, she designed her own. She promptly taught herself to screen print and began to sell her own designs. This design in particular has an architectural quality, referencing her architectural education.

Pioneering designer Ruth Adler Schnee was trained in architecture and first began designing textiles when her architectural projects demanded more modern designs than were available on the market. This need launched her career in textile design. Both natural and man-made environments inspire her work. This textile was inspired by the fireplace tools she encountered during a trip to the studio of renowned sculptor Alexander Calder.

Known for her organic inspiration and love of bold colors, pioneering textile artist Ruth Adler Schnee describes a complete design is one that really "sings." Her furnishing and drapery fabrics were favorites of everyday consumers and leading modern architects alike, including Minoru Yamasaki, Paul Rudolph, and Buckminster Fuller. Adler Schnee's designs are truly timeless -- many of them are still being manufactured today.

Trained as an interior architect, Ruth Adler Schnee began her pioneering foray into textile design with an entry into the Chicago Tribune's "Better Rooms for Better Living" interior design competition. Unable to locate suitable fabrics, she designed her own and this ad hoc textile she designed drew attention. She promptly taught herself to screen print and began to sell her own designs.

Trained as an interior architect, Ruth Adler Schnee began her pioneering foray into textile design with an entry into the Chicago Tribune's "Better Rooms for Better Living" interior design competition. Unable to locate suitable fabrics, she designed her own and this ad hoc textile she designed drew attention. She promptly taught herself to screen print and began to sell her own designs.

Pioneering designer Ruth Adler Schnee was trained in architecture and first began designing textiles when her architectural projects demanded more modern designs than were available on the market. This need launched her career in textile design. Both natural and man-made environments inspire her work. Railroads especially interested Adler Schee and two of her designs drew inspiration from them -- "Narrow Gauge" and "Slits and Slats."

Trained as an interior architect, Ruth Adler Schnee began her pioneering foray into textile design with an entry into the Chicago Tribune's "Better Rooms for Better Living" interior design competition. Unable to locate suitable fabrics, she designed her own and this ad hoc textile she designed drew attention. She promptly taught herself to screen print and began to sell her own designs.

Pioneering designer Ruth Adler Schnee was trained in architecture and first began designing textiles when her architectural projects demanded more modern designs than were available on the market. This need launched her career in textile design. Both natural and man-made environments inspire her work. This textile, named "Germination," was designed after a trip to the Arizona and evokes the desert landscape.

Known for her organic inspiration and love of bold colors, pioneering textile artist Ruth Adler Schnee describes a complete design is one that really "sings." Her furnishing and drapery fabrics were favorites of everyday consumers and leading modern architects alike, including Minoru Yamasaki, Paul Rudolph, and Buckminster Fuller. Adler Schnee's designs are truly timeless -- many of them are still being manufactured today.

Known for her organic inspiration and love of bold colors, pioneering textile artist Ruth Adler Schnee describes a complete design is one that really "sings." Her furnishing and drapery fabrics were favorites of everyday consumers and leading modern architects alike, including Minoru Yamasaki, Paul Rudolph, and Buckminster Fuller. Adler Schnee's designs are truly timeless -- many of them are still being manufactured today.

Known for her organic inspiration and love of bold colors, pioneering textile artist Ruth Adler Schnee describes a complete design is one that really "sings." Her furnishing and drapery fabrics were favorites of everyday consumers and leading modern architects alike, including Minoru Yamasaki, Paul Rudolph, and Buckminster Fuller. Adler Schnee's designs are truly timeless -- many of them are still being manufactured today.

Known for her organic inspiration and love of bold colors, pioneering textile artist Ruth Adler Schnee describes a complete design is one that really "sings." Her furnishing and drapery fabrics were favorites of everyday consumers and leading modern architects alike, including Minoru Yamasaki, Paul Rudolph, and Buckminster Fuller. Adler Schnee's designs are truly timeless -- many of them are still being manufactured today.

Known for her organic inspiration and love of bold colors, pioneering textile artist Ruth Adler Schnee describes a complete design is one that really "sings." Her furnishing and drapery fabrics were favorites of everyday consumers and leading modern architects alike, including Minoru Yamasaki, Paul Rudolph, and Buckminster Fuller. Adler Schnee's designs are truly timeless -- many of them are still being manufactured today.

Trained as an interior architect, Ruth Adler Schnee began her pioneering foray into textile design with an entry into the Chicago Tribune's "Better Rooms for Better Living" interior design competition. Unable to locate suitable fabrics, she designed her own and this ad hoc textile she designed drew attention. She promptly taught herself to screen print and began to sell her own designs.

Trained as an interior architect, Ruth Adler Schnee began her pioneering foray into textile design with an entry into the Chicago Tribune's "Better Rooms for Better Living" interior design competition. Unable to locate suitable fabrics, she designed her own and this ad hoc textile she designed drew attention. She promptly taught herself to screen print and began to sell her own designs.

Pioneering designer Ruth Adler Schnee was trained in architecture and first began designing textiles when her architectural projects demanded more modern designs than were available on the market. This need launched her career in textile design. Both natural and man-made environments inspire her work. Railroads especially interested Adler Schee and two of her designs drew inspiration from them -- "Narrow Gauge" and "Slits and Slats."

Pins strewn about her sewing table. Snowflakes under a microscope. A stack of firewood. Adler Schnee took inspiration from the world around her, both the fantastic and the mundane. She created strikingly modern abstract and often organic forms. For this design, aptly named "Seedy Weeds" by her husband Eddie, Adler Schnee was motivated by -- you guessed it -- her personal garden.

Pioneering designer Ruth Adler Schnee was trained in architecture and first began designing textiles when her architectural projects demanded more modern designs than were available on the market. This need launched her career in textile design. Both natural and man-made environments inspire her work. This textile was inspired by the fireplace tools she encountered during a trip to the studio of renowned sculptor Alexander Calder.

Known for her organic inspiration and love of bold colors, pioneering textile artist Ruth Adler Schnee describes a complete design is one that really "sings." Her furnishing and drapery fabrics were favorites of everyday consumers and leading modern architects alike, including Minoru Yamasaki, Paul Rudolph, and Buckminster Fuller. Adler Schnee's designs are truly timeless -- many of them are still being manufactured today.

Pioneering designer Ruth Adler Schnee was trained in architecture and first began designing textiles when her architectural projects demanded more modern designs than were available on the market. This need launched her career in textile design. She drew inspiration from the world around her, both the fantastic and the mundane -- this textile, named "Humpty Dumpty," suggests the fantastic world of a nursery rhyme.

Pioneering designer Ruth Adler Schnee was trained in architecture and first began designing textiles when her architectural projects demanded more modern designs than were available on the market. This need launched her career in textile design. Both natural and man-made environments inspire her work. Railroads especially interested Adler Schee and two of her designs drew inspiration from them -- "Narrow Gauge" and "Slits and Slats."

Trained as an interior architect, Ruth Adler Schnee began her pioneering foray into textile design with an entry into the Chicago Tribune's "Better Rooms for Better Living" interior design competition. Unable to locate suitable fabrics, she designed her own and this ad hoc textile she designed drew attention. She promptly taught herself to screen print and began to sell her own designs.

A garden in need of weeding. Snowflakes under a microscope. A messy sewing table. Designer Ruth Adler Schnee took inspiration from the world around her, both the fantastic and the mundane. This textile, which portrays cables like those used for transmitting information through electricity, was designed 100 years after the first transatlantic telegraph cable was laid in 1858.

Known for her organic inspiration and love of bold colors, pioneering textile artist Ruth Adler Schnee describes a complete design is one that really "sings." Her furnishing and drapery fabrics were favorites of everyday consumers and leading modern architects alike, including Minoru Yamasaki, Paul Rudolph, and Buckminster Fuller. Adler Schnee's designs are truly timeless -- many of them are still being manufactured today.

Pebbles, smoothed by the continuous flow of water over a riverbed, inspired this textile design. Ruth Adler Schnee, a multi-talented interior architect and designer, drew inspiration for her designs from both natural and man-made environments. Known for her bold use of color and abstract patterns, she became one of the pioneering Modernist textile designers of the twentieth century.