María Hernández is a Spanish textile artist who focuses on the technique of hand weaving. What struck us most about her work is its contemporary, fresh, and playful style. Her color palettes are always perfect, and her favorite subjects are often geometric, though sometimes you'll find pom-poms and fruits sneaking into her pieces.
Her tapestries, beautiful and meticulously crafted, are so harmonious in both hues and design that they seem like part of an endless, unified series of textiles that you could hang individually or all together on an imaginary wall stretching from the North Pole to the South Pole! This means María has successfully achieved the challenging task of finding her own distinctive style.
We thank María for choosing some of our yarns—Lagom, Piuma, Rain or Shine, and Kyoto—to create the stunning tapestries featured in this article.
And now, let’s get to know María a little better, in her own words.
Since I was little, I have enjoyed working with my hands. Growing up surrounded by creativity has contributed to this passion, as my parents have always instilled in me the value of handmade things. My mother is the one who sparked my love for wool—she is a great knitter. There were always lots of yarns at home, and the first time I tried weaving on a loom was to make a rug by recycling leftover wool. I loved the experience so much that I started weaving more tapestries, watching many videos and reading numerous books about weaving. Almost everything I know I have learned in a self-taught way, but I have also taken courses on low-warp weaving at a textile school.
I started weaving tapestries on a high-warp loom as a self-taught artist around 2015. In the following years, I dedicated myself to experimenting with different fibers and techniques, such as low-warp weaving and natural dyeing. In 2019, I decided it was time to present my creations in a more professional way, and that’s when MALATRAMA was born—my brand and my way of expressing my passion for textiles. My desire to share the knowledge I’ve gained over the years has also led me to teach in-person workshops. In addition to teaching, I aim to pass on my passion for tapestries.
Slow work, calm, order, attention to detail, the value of small things, and nature are fundamental elements in my work philosophy. Geometries are a very representative part of my style—I consider myself an organized person, and I suppose, without realizing it, this is my way of expressing that through tapestries.
Weaving is a part of my daily life. I spend many hours experimenting, trying new yarns and shapes, but most of my time is dedicated to my companion and "assistant," Sur—my dog. Long walks in the mountains near our village have become my favorite hobby. Before having Sur, I had never had contact with dogs, but since he entered my life, they have become my favorite animal. Besides walking with Sur, I also enjoy reading mystery and intrigue novels. I love listening to music too, and since I spend many hours at the loom, music is my constant companion.
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