Maija Esko

Maija Esko is a textile artist from Finland, known for her painted textiles designed for daily use. Her creations range from tablecloths and curtains to bed covers and wall hangings—each a colourful story woven through paint and fabric, made to be used and cherished for years. Every piece is unique, with its narrative emerging through layers of stripes and colours. The horizontal stripes are inspired by the landscapes of her local environment, while the intensity and layering of colours and organic forms reflect places she has visited, experienced, or imagined.

Maija believes that her work is a conversation with the surrounding environment, conveyed through the colours and lines. She describes it as "hearing the voice of a freezing lake in winter, feeling the wind at the corners of an old house, listening to the crackle of fire in the stove, and sensing the silence of the forest at night."

In a technique she developed, Maija paints her textiles on a large table, often outdoors. She hangs the fabric on walls or branches to take in the horizon of the painting, waiting for the story to "become visible." Her work is both artistic and functional, offering wearable and usable pieces of art.

Find out more and follow Maija Esko:
maijaesko.fi

@maijaesko