Julia Vysokova

Embroiderer | Edmonton, Canada

Jewellery woven with nostalgia

Julia creates embroidered jewellery and accessories
She works with salvaged vintage artefacts
Her process is creative and fluid, guided by instinct

Julia Vysokova creates hand embroidered jewellery and accessories inspired by 19th-century European fashion. She uses a combination of old necklaces, Swarovski crystals, Japanese beads, antique silk ribbons, silk and lace in her pieces to reflect a refined aristocratic style. Julia is a self-taught artist. Her initial interest in cross-stitch for dolls has, over time, evolved into an artistic practise creating fine bead embroidery and award-winning couture-inspired purses. Now living in Canada, she continues to create from her Edmonton studio, repurposing antique materials sourced from markets and collections. “My practice is concerned with nostalgia, patience and an enduring fascination with beauty and craftsmanship,” she says.

Interview

©Tania Mo

When did you become interested in embroidery?: As a child, I was enchanted by the old Kuskovo estate near Moscow where my grandmother often took me for walks. I loved looking at the embroidery on the elegant dresses of noble women. Those early impressions formed my sense of art and beauty.
How did you develop your technique?: I am self-taught. I studied old books, searched online and observed haute couture garments while working in a luxury store in Moscow. I experimented with beads, silk, lace and sequins, trying anything that could add depth and texture. I always wanted to create something as beautiful as the gowns I admired, but in a smaller, more wearable form.
What does your creative process look like?: I start with an idea or emotion rather than a finished design. Sometimes I draw a light sketch on silk organza, then paint the background before stitching. I start with small details, layer by layer, until the piece feels alive. I never know exactly how it will end: it grows and develops as I create.
How does your background influence your art?: I settled in Edmonton three years ago with my husband. In Canada, I have found a kind community of embroiderers and collectors. My inspiration still comes from European fashion. Perhaps I bring a little of that old world elegance into Canada.

Julia Vysokova is an expert artisan: she began her career in 2016