Ana Grajales

Weaver

©Sebastian Pereyra

©Naty Burjel

A dialogue with wool

Ana makes woven wool wall-hangings inspired by nature and introspection
Her speciality is weaving on a frame loom
Her works explore her native Uruguay and the nature she experiences daily in Mallorca

In 2016, Ana Grajales graduated as an industrial designer from the University School of Design in Uruguay. She worked as a graphic designer until 2018, when she taught herself to weave for the first time. Over the years, she has taken various weaving workshops with artists and artisans from Uruguay, Chile and the United States. “When I discovered the loom and weaving, I saw an opportunity. That same year, I set up Trama, my workshop, where I began to sell tapestries and woven wool lamps,” she explains. “Since 2023, I have focused exclusively on working with textiles.” Throug her practice, Ana has found her profession and a balance for life. "Textile work allows me to reach a form of meditation, of disconnection, of mindfulness,.” she says.

Interview

©Tina Garcia

How does your work come about?: My work arises from an intimate dialogue with material and place. I aim to explore and question human vulnerability and fragility, and our bond with nature and our own inner world.
Which themes influence your creative work?: I weave together living memories. My process is deeply influenced by the land and nature that surround me. My language is a blend of my Uruguayan roots and my new home: the island of Mallorca. The shapes and colours of my pieces are inspired by the shapes and textures of nature.
What kind of materials do you use?: My process is intuitive. I take photos in everyday life, and the impressions from these come through in what I create. I mainly work with a blend of Uruguayan wool and the rustic wool of Mallorca. This mix allows me to create pieces with their own identity and character.
How do you approach the creative process?: I develop a deep and respectful connection with the materials and with the process, giving new meaning to the ancestral craft that is loom weaving. I merge it with my knowledge of industrial design, graphic design, and my own unique way of seeing and feeling the world.

Ana Grajales is a rising star: she began her career in 2020