Featured Artist : Karen Williamson Nuku

I am Karen Williamson, a natural dyer from Aotearoa, New Zealand. Plants are my medium, using leaves, flowers, bark and seeds to create botanical eco prints on natural textiles including scarves and clothing intended to be functional wearable art. The process of eco printing is a mindful and joyous one as I search for forms and colours in nature, creating a sense of place in which I love living while embracing sustainable principles. I am inspired by the soulfulness and spiritual connections that come from foraging for local plants through to unbundling the finished work. It requires me to embrace serendipity, acknowledging Papatuanuku, the earth mother, as the creative director.

I have my own small clothing label - Nuku - the name stems from this connection with the land, and in Maori means earth. Imprints of plants bring their own Mauri or life force to the work. They leave a unique story about their history, spirituality, and place in the world. Each eco-printed item is a one-of-kind piece that reflects a sense of place and time in Aotearoa, imbued with the Aroha (love) given in its making. The results are always magical. I sell my work online, in selected retail, and at local markets. I share my passion for natural dyeing and the process of sustainable art through workshops in eco printing and indigo at my home studio and garden in Kaipara, Northland. You can find more about my work and workshops on my website, or follow on Instagram or Facebook.