Alexandra Navas

Eugenia Pinna

Textile sculptor

©Mr Tom Griffith

A cross-cultural exploration through textile

Alexandra works in a free and experimental manner to make textile sculptures
She weaves many of her textiles on a high-warp loom
She prioritises beauty over technique to achieve her final compositions

Born in Colombia, Alexandra Navas emigrated at the age of six, first to Mexico and later to Spain, where she currently lives. Alexandra studied graphic design at the Massana School of Barcelona. “Since I was a child, art has been a fundamental part of my life. My mother, who is an artist, filled our home with artworks, creating a vibrant and creative atmosphere,” she says. After dedicating 10 years to fashion design and establishing her own clothing brand, she decided to study at the Taller Escuela Textil Teranyina, founded by artist and master artisan Teresa Rosa Aguayo, with Olga Hernández as her teacher. The workshop-school won the National Craft Award in 2019. “It is a wonderful space located in the heart of Barcelona’s old town, dedicated to spreading the knowledge of tapestry and other textile techniques,” says Alexandra.

Interview

©Mr Tom Griffith

©Mr Tom Griffith

How do you design your pieces?: I conceptualise each piece as a whole. The interwoven elements create an aesthetic and visual unity. I enjoy the challenge of combining these fragments, transforming them into a unique work.
What is your relationship with natural materials?: Natural and repurposed materials reflect my commitment to and love for nature, while the golden threads I use pay homage to the native communities of my country, where gold represents the sun.
How is your native Colombia connected to your work?: My greatest source of inspiration is the place I come from—a land of nature and life. Through my work, I imaginatively travel across the territory, searching within my origins, femininity, and ancestral world for a vision of the future that respects the Earth in all its forms of life and brings us closer to our sacred and divine nature.
How would you describe weaving?: Weaving has become my cure for exile and the source of my creativity. I weave to heal my wound, transcending social, cultural, and geographical barriers between Europe and Latin America, intertwining the worlds that live within me.

Alexandra Navas is a rising star: she began her career in 2017