I grew up surrounded by Artek furniture
Textile designer Johanna Gullichsen was born in Somero in Southwest Finland. Before making her mark as a textile designer, she studied art history, literature and languages at the University of Helsinki. After which, she learned the art of weaving at Porvoo Crafts School.
Describing her approach to design, Gullichsen says, ‘Weaving by hand on a loom is my inspiration for exploring techniques and patterns. That is how most of my designs are born. Handcrafting is a living design tool for me, something that is always part of the narrative of my textiles. I am particularly interested in the construction of a fabric and am drawn to technically challenging designs, even though the end product may look simple. The products I design are defined by the fabric itself – either by the material or by its pattern.’
Gullichsen has always felt a connection to Artek.
‘For me, working with Artek is natural. I grew up surrounded by Artek furniture as my grandmother, Maire Gullichsen, was one of the founders of Artek. And later, I too have consciously, repeatedly, chosen Artek designs for my own home.’
Image: Johanna Gullichsen at the library of Villa Mairea, photo by Anton Sucksdorff
