Livia Papiernik is a Franco-British visual storyteller pushing the boundaries of how we view textiles in contemporary art. As a mixed-media artist, she uses painting, patchwork, and embroidery to create work that instigates wonder and awe. 

Livia’s work explores social, political, and personal issues with humor and colour. These topics, which are often hard to discuss, are made more accessible through her dream-like depictions of a parallel universe. She often confronts her personal insecurities by re-narrating her everyday life, the objects around her, and her home. Through her work, she creates portals to new realities, enabling a sense of escapism for herself and her audience. The juxtaposition of beauty and tragedy is a theme that is apparent throughout her work. Mythology and folklore inspire her narratives and the way in which she encompasses surrealism and fantasy in her textile artworks. 

 Livia recently graduated from the MA Textile course at the Royal College of Art. Prior to her MA, she studied traditional hand Embroidery at the Royal School of Needlework. It is there that Livia mastered the craft of embroidery and connected to its strong historical link to storytelling and female empowerment.

About

CV

Livia Chaia Papiernik

b.1997

born in Paris, based in London

Education

MA Textile, Royal College of Art , 2021

BA Hand Embroidery, Royal School of Needlework, 2018

Awards and Residencies

2022

Anderson Contemporary Residency ( May 2022-May 2023)

2019

Roger Walls Binns Scholarship - Full scholarship to attend the Royal College of Art

2018                              

TexSelect - Mentorship program

The Worshipful Company of Broderers - Top Student of BA Hand Embroidery Award

The Worshipful Company of Haberdashers - Best Final year Major project Award

Group Shows

Ct Ceneri Les Amis, France 2024

The Ugly Little Ducks, Mercantile London, 2024

Art Kiosk, Liquid Gold Gallery, London, 2023

Soft Dialogue, London Craft Week, Brixton Department Store, London, UK 2022

Crown to Catwalk : 150 years of the Royal School of Needlework, Fashion and Textile Museum, London, 2022

Contemporary painting, Brick lane gallery, London 2022

Textile Happening, Royal College of Art, London, 2021

Premiere Vision, Paris 2019

New Designers, Business Design Centre, Islington, UK 2021

Embellishment in Fashion, Hampton Court Palace, UK, 2017

Stories in stitch, Hampton Court Palace, UK, 2017

Off the Surface, Devon Guild of Craftsmen, UK, 2017

Over the last few months I’ve been working with @clairedw.dotcom on the embroidery design of the new Snowdrop headband designed by @awongolding for @lockhatters new women’s winter collection. Each headband was then meiticulously hand stit
As mentioned last week, the @boundembroidery exhibition that was planned to open tomorrow is rescheduled to January 16-21st ♥️ This was due to the train strikes that were originally taking place over the next two weeks. Obviously, train stri
The wonderful @thenomadsalon Interviewed me! Here are a few snapshots, you can go and read the rest of it on the Nomad Salon Website. Link in Bio! 🌸 Thank you to Jenny for all the thoughtful questions, It was such a pleasure to answer them. She
Behind the scenes from this summer of the flowers I am making 🌸 I made a lot of pink pancakes as I like to call them, and I still have a lot to make! #felting #handembroidery #textile #felt #art #fiberart @boundembroidery #pink #flowers