Carolina Guillermet's new tapestries further her exploration of textile as a medium for formal experimentation and cultural reflection. These three works show her commitment to the Latin American  textile culture, while offering a contemporary take on the tradition alongside her dedication to urban colour theory.

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Guillermet's new tapestries reflect the artist's precise attention to colour and texture, each piece employing a distinct palette and compositional structure. One features earthy tones of brown and ochre, offset by stripes and vibrant accents, evoking a sense of landscape shaped by natural forces and human intervention. Another is bolder, composed of blocks of colour intersected by lines, recalling architectural forms and Guillermet’s long-standing interest in the visual rhythms of urban environments. The third shifts to softer, pastel tones, offering a quieter, more introspective approach to form and colour.

Carolina Guillermet, Untitled, Tapestry

The Tufting Technique

Textile as a medium carries significant cultural and historical weight in Guillermet’s work. Her grandfather, J.P. Guillermet, was a renowned tapestry artist, and her pieces continue this familial legacy while incorporating contemporary materials and techniques. Central to her practice is the tufting method, a traditional technique that involves the meticulous insertion of yarn through a base fabric, using a hand-operated or mechanical tufting gun. This process creates a dense, highly textured surface, with loops or cut pile that can vary in height, offering a tactile quality unique to this medium.

Guillermet employs allergen-free synthetic wool for her works, collaborating with skilled local ateliers to ensure precision in execution. Once the yarns are secured, the backing is reinforced with a layer of latex to provide durability, and a rubberised base is added for stability. This robust construction allows the tapestries to function as versatile objects—they can be displayed on the wall as art pieces or used as rugs, bringing their aesthetic and textural qualities into everyday spaces.

Guillermet transforms the tufting technique, traditionally associated with functional textiles such as carpets, into a medium for artistic expression. By combining intricate designs, complex colour palettes, and deliberate textural contrasts, she elevates this craft-based process to contemporary fine art. The resulting works are visually striking as well as deeply tactile.

Guillermet’s work also reflects an engagement with the ideas of Anni Albers, the German-American textile artist whose work in weaving was informed by her study of Peruvian patterns and modernist design. Albers believed in the capacity of textiles to function as art objects in their own right, rather than as decorative or utilitarian objects. Guillermet builds on this legacy, treating textile as a platform for artistic inquiry while remaining attentive to its cultural origins. Her new works are informed by Latin American textile traditions but are designed to resonate beyond their regional context, appealing to audiences across geographies and cultures.

Carolina Guillermet, Untitled, Tapestry

Guillermet’s ability to employ colour is more than merely a visual element. For her, colour acts as a medium for emotional engagement, with its intensity heightened through the tactility of the woven surface. By layering vibrant hues with muted tones, or juxtaposing bold blocks with intricate stripes, she creates works that invite visual and physical interaction.

Guillermet's new tapestries explore nature, within Costa Rica and the wider Latin American ecosystems, and the built urban environments seen in cities, such as Costa Rica's capital San José. It is the emotional potential of colour, and the tactile memory inherent in textiles that make these new pieces so unique. These works are designed as reflections of Latin American cultural traditions but also as objects that transcend specific contexts, offering viewers a chance to connect with them on a personal level.

Guillermet’s practice, whether shown in her tapestries or in her bright geometric paintings, reflects a sensitivity to the historical significance of her medium and its relevance in contemporary art. Her new tapestries hold an enduring appeal of textile art, celebrating its tradition with innovation, a balance that reminds us of the timeless connection between material, process, and meaning.