Contemporary textiles and intricately woven designs
- Katerina reworks tradition to perpetuate her craft
- She is specialised in hand weaving and digital Jacquard weaving
- Her creations are always concept-driven
Katerina Nakou is a textile artist whose practice technically and conceptually unfolds as an exploration of weaving. "My craft is a way to create narratives and tell stories through material and form,” she says. Deeply drawing from tradition, Katerina’s work seeks to balance heritage with contemporary expression. "I study traditional methods not to imitate them, but to understand, deconstruct and reimagine them, so they can speak to the present," she says. One of Katerina's recent and distinctive projects, The Resilient Thread, grew out of her research into passementerie, a disappearing craft once used to create decorative trims and cords. Through her large-scale woven compositions, she brings new light to this ancient savoir-faire. The project, which was awarded for its intricacy, became a defining moment in Katerina's evolving practice.
Interview
- How did you discover weaving?
- A dear friend once suggested we attend an open day at a textile school. At the time, I was studying philosophy and art history, but I knew I needed something more creative. I remember being mesmerised by the looms, the colours of the yarns and the rich textures of the samples. At that moment, I fell completely in love with textiles.
- How do you engage with tradition?
- For me, tradition is a foundation, not a destination. I feel deeply connected to it, but not with the intention of replicating it. My practice is continuously nourished and shaped by what has existed in the past. Each thread carries techniques developed over centuries.
- Do you work with technology?
- Technology is a means to expand the craft. Software preserves old patterns, digital looms bring new complexity to traditional structures and documentation ensures these techniques endure. Technology keeps the craft alive and accessible, especially for younger artists.
- What do you find most challenging in your craft?
- The hardest part is time: the craft demands time the world rarely allows. Weaving is slow, meticulous and often invisible in its complexity. The contemporary world moves fast. This very tension is what gives the craft its meaning. It teaches me patience, persistence and instils in me a deep commitment to the process.
Katerina Nakou is a rising star: she began her career in 2022 and she started teaching in 2023
Works
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Katerina Nakou
