● Textiles
Maria Elisa Vale · Porto
Maria Elisa Vale is a multidisciplinary artist based in Porto, Portugal, and the creator of Numvale, an artistic project centred around textiles, material exploration, and the observation of nature. Working between tapestry weaving, papermaking, and sculpture, her work is guided by a deep connection to natural fibres, textures, and landscape.
Her woven works are shaped by an interest in landscape, material, and assembled forms. For this selection, inspired by her journey through São Miguel in the Azores, Maria explores volcanic surfaces, shifting atmospheres, and the textures of the island through rhythm, repetition, and layered woven fragments.
Read our interview with Anna.
Handwoven in wool by Maria Elisa Vale in Portugal, Sete Cidades was inspired by the volcanic landscape and changing atmosphere of the São Miguel region from which it takes its name. Constructed through smaller woven sections later joined together, the tapestry explores how memory, landscape, and material can be translated into textile form through colour, texture, and composition.
Handwoven in wool and handspun reclaimed textile fibers by Maria Elisa Vale in Portugal, Nordeste explores landscape and material through tapestry weaving and assembled textile fragments. Named after the São Miguel region, the piece combines natural and reclaimed fibers to reflect the layered textures and tonal variations observed throughout the journey. The tapestry develops through repetition, construction, and an attentive relationship with material.
Handwoven in wool and alpaca by Maria Elisa Vale in Portugal, São Miguel was developed after a journey to São Miguel, the main island of the Azores. Influenced by the island’s humid greens, volcanic textures, and earthy tones, the tapestry is constructed from smaller woven fragments later joined together, resembling a map assembled through memory and observation. Through tapestry weaving, the piece explores landscape, territory, and the experience of travel through material and form.
Handwoven in wool by Maria Elisa Vale in Portugal, Furnas takes its name from one of the regions of São Miguel island. Through tapestry weaving, the piece translates impressions of volcanic terrain, vegetation, and shifting colour into woven form. Built from assembled fragments, the tapestry reflects an approach guided by texture, material, and close observation of landscape.