About Jules
In her studio Taftique in Florence, Dutch artist Jules Vissers translates an old tradition into modern artworks. Here she designs and creates textile artworks using local high-quality Italian yarns. She combines techniques such as tufting, weaving, embroidery, crochet and passementerie. She graduated cum laude with a Master of Fine Arts in Art Textiles from Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze in 2020, fulfilling a life-long desire to start an artistic career after having worked in the field of international relations.
Jules pays homage to nature by using predominantly natural yarns and those derived from recycled fibers. She participates in many art and design events, such as Dubai Design Week, Milan Design Week, Dutch Design Week, and Florence Biennale. She has also already received multiple awards and recognitions, such as the European Textile & Craft Award 2024, the Lorenzo il Magnifico Award, the ICAC Art Critics Award, and the Tamara Art Award. She was a finalist at the LVMH Mestieri d'Eccellenza Awards 2024. Jules is a member of the Homo Faber Guide, the Isola Design community, and the Artisan Gallery of Artex. She is also featured on Artemest, a platform for high-end Italian craftsmanship.
European Textile & Craft Award 2024 - category Textile Art - European Textile Academy, Bolzano
"Before applying to the Florence Fine Art Academy in 2019, I had been working with textiles for many years, but not in a professional way. In my new homeland Italy artisan craftmanship is of paramount importance. I followed the Master’s programme in Art Textiles and during my training I collaborated with several specialist workshops, such as the Fondazione Arte Della Seta Lisio in Florence. Here I worked with the antique looms and learned how to make textiles in a traditional way. In January 2021 I started my own atelier Taftique in the historical centre of Florence. Here I design and produce textile wall art and textile art objects.
I originally come from the Netherlands and I have been living in Italy since 1998. In my twenties I graduated in European Studies at the University of Amsterdam and International Law at UCL London. After working for several years for the Dutch Consulate in Italy, I gradually focused more on my passion for art and applied arts, taking courses in drawing, painting, photography and various textile techniques before applying to the Fine Art Academy.
I am inspired by the nature and the classical art that surrounds me here and by artistic movements of the first part of the 20th century, such as cubism and art deco. To me my yarns are like my painting colours. I often use complementary colours and curved geometric forms, and I like to explore the interaction between different textures and their three-dimensional effects, using varying yarn heights, pile types and combining heterogeneous yarn types. In my artistic journey I have developed my own style between abstract and figurative works. In the latter ones I like to evoke playful and intimate scenes, with a somewhat mythological allure. In my pure abstract works there is a more explicit exploration of the varying textures and their three-dimensional effect.
The main technique I use is tufting, that's why I invented the name 'Taftique' for my atelier. With this manual technique I can make specific scenes and patterns come to life. In combination with textile techniques such as embroidery and weaving, it allows me to create relief and very outspoken textures, making my works exciting and caressable.
Learn about my inspiration and creative process also here:
https://youtu.be/_FPvKHMYez4
Refinishing
Refinishing in atelier
