KUSTAA SAKSI

Kustaa Saksi, born in Kouvola, Finland in 1975, is an Amsterdam-based multidisciplinary artist and designer. He graduated from the Lahti Institute of Design in 2000, initially focusing on graphic design and illustration. After a decade in graphic design, Saksi transitioned to textile art around 2013, a shift influenced by his discovery of the TextielMuseum in Tilburg, Netherlands. His practice combines traditional jacquard weaving techniques with contemporary digital possibilities and a diverse range of materials, including natural fibers like mohair, alpaca, and wool, alongside synthetic and experimental yarns such as rubber and phosphorescent threads. Saksi's work is characterized by intricate, often surreal patterns and organic forms, drawing inspiration from nature, mythology, and altered states of perception. A recurring theme in his art is the visual disturbances experienced during migraine auras, which he has incorporated into series like "Hypnopompic" and "First Symptoms." His works have been exhibited internationally at institutions including the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum in New York, Design Museum Helsinki, and Kunsthall Stavanger. He has also undertaken commissions for major fashion and design brands such as Hermès, Nike, Issey Miyake, Marimekko, and Salvatore Ferragamo. In 2023, Saksi was awarded the Pro Finlandia Medal of the Order of the Lion of Finland.