Weaving with the emotions of the North
- Line merge craft skills and artistic vision to produce woven wall-art
- She creates tactile pieces that convey and stir emotions connected to landscape and colour
- Her inspiration comes from Arctic light and shadow
Line Nilsen draws deep inspiration from the Arctic landscapes of her youth in Norway. Her work reflects the emotional pull of the extreme light and darkness of her homeland, transforming these contrasting states into woven art that captures the resonance of place. Through intricate layering on a hand loom, Line fuses traditional craft skills with modern design. She works with linen, cotton, wool, and paper, often dyeing and painting the warp before weaving. This process creates tactile works that blur the line between weaving and painting, offering a sensory dialogue between texture, light, and colour. Line's work is regularly showcased in prestigious galleries and fairs such as the Royal Academy of Arts, Collect Art Fair, and London Art Fair.
Interview
- How did you learn your craft?
- I first completed a tailoring apprenticeship in Norway, but it was at the University of Creative Arts in Farnham that I fell in love with the craft of weaving. The course had a real focus on making by hand and materials exploration.
- Can you explain your process?
- I paint the threads first, embracing spontaneity, then weave them into unique compositions. Using natural fibres and deadstock makes each piece one-of-a-kind, allowing the materials and mental archive of previous work to guide my creative journey.
- What inspires your work?
- I am inspired by the Norwegian landscape. Even though I no longer live there, its light, colours, and sensations are part of me. Weaving reconnects me with my heritage, homeland and family, especially my mother who introduced me to textiles and crafts as a child.
- How do you balance technique and artistry in your work?
- Weaving combines technical skill with creativity. I love the balance between the structure, or ‘rules’ of the loom and the freedom I find in painting. To me weaving feels instinctive and allows me to create deeply personal works.
Line Nilsen is a master artisan: she began her career in 2009 and she started teaching in 2017
Where
Line Nilsen
