Soledad Santisteban Villanueva

Textile sculptor

©Soledad Santisteban

Felting sculpture

Soledad began her career in 1983
In 1985 she opened her workshop
Her first object was a blanket on the low-warp loom

After studying at the School of Architecture and graduating in Geography and History, Soledad Santisteban Villanueva studied Preventive Conservation, in which she specialised in the textile world. In 1985, she opened her workshop in Bilbao where she researches and teaches traditional textile techniques: felting, loom weaving, bobbin lace, crochet, tapestry, macramé, vegetable dyes and the conservation and restoration of textile heritage. All her creations are the result of the research she carries out in her workshop. After studying and getting to know natural fibres in-depth, Soledad makes them evolve, breaking their limits, which allows her to create expressive and suggestive pieces. "All my works arise from shapes that create lines, profiles, surfaces and volumes, concave and convex, either to collect, hold, open, close... It bursts" she says.

Interview

©Soledad Santisteban

©Soledad Santisteban

How would you describe your craft?: My creative work is a welcome contrast to my textile restoration work. As opposed to the rigidity and constriction of textile restoration, my creative work is based on freedom, movement and experimentation.
What are your sources of inspiration?: I start with the idea of form and volume. This acts as a mould in which I will develop my piece, I establish a dialogue between the wool and its intrinsic peculiarities within the object.
What relationship does your craft have with Bilbao?: There was no textile craft in Bilbao when I started. I had to go to Granada to learn the technique of the low-warp loom. Now, working with felt, I feel connected with the territory through using the wool from the sheep of my region.
Do you have advice for a young artisan starting their career?: I would tell them to train well, not to try to make a quick profit. Also to have a lot of fun doing his work, even if it is hard and sometimes not very widely recognised. I would be willing to train apprentices, but at the moment there is no demand.

Soledad Santisteban Villanueva is a master artisan: she began her career in 1983 and she started teaching in 1987