Maddalena Forcella
Originally from Rome, Italy with training in art restoration and later in textile design in Mexico City, Maddalena has spent the last twenty-five years working in Mexico with indigenous artisans, researching traditional weaving and dyeing techniques. Immersed in the flavors and crafts of Mexico, she has woven the culture of her adopted home into her own creative visión.
Deeply committed to the artisans of Mexico, Maddalena lived for many years in the small communities around San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas. Now based in Oaxaca, she continues to collaborate with the artisans of Chiapas and Oaxaca. She has co-founded several cooperatives, and believes in empowering women and supporting the preservation and revitalization of ancient textile techniques.
Maddalena’s elegant designs weave one thread that connects the traditional and the contemporary. Her work expresses a special alchemy of complex, subtle color combinations and incredible textures.
In addition to her product design, Maddalena is an accomplished gallery artist and has had numerous exhibitions around the world. Her work has been exhibited at Museo Franz Mayer in Mexico City, the Museo Textil de Oaxaca, Cer Modern in Ankara, and The Fashion and Textile Museum in London.
She has been invited to exhibit her work at some of the world’s most important fiber art events, including the International Triennial of Tapestry in Lodz, Poland and the Hangzhou Triennal of Fiber Art in China.
View Maddalena's website: maddaforcella.com