About Heidewinne

Heide works across embroidery, costume and jewellery design, and textile-based research. She has a special affinity for contemporary dance, opera and experimental performance; significant collaborations include dance companies such as Rosas/Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker and designers such as Christophe Coppens. She currently works at the Opéra national de Paris. Heide travels the world immersing herself in local techniques and traditions, including in Mexico, and trained at the prestigious École Lesage in Paris. Her practice is rooted in craftsmanship and material experimentation, working exclusively with deadstock and found materials. In her work, craft becomes narrative and embroidery becomes sculpture. 

“Embroidery brings together so much of my past and present. I get to apply many of the skills I learned, as well as show my own vision on color and design. And the magpie in me gets to work with all the bling it wants.

Throughout my education and professional career I have worked within a whole set of craftsmanship and arts: drawing, lithography, millinery, bird taxidermy and embroidery, which I have learned at the école Lesage in Paris. This training was a lifelong dream.

For me, all the pieces of the puzzle fall into place with this technique: I get to draw, combine the colors I want, combine textures, create, … My hands determine the pace and speed: I cannot accelerate or hurry, it requires a relatively slow rhythm.

For me embroidery is storytelling, or interpreting someone’s tale. Every work takes you on an adventure of discovery through different settings of materials and views.

It is my inner magpie that gathers all these treasures you will encounter with my work. Gathering and hiding all these shining pearls, sequins and thread in a colorful work that will never be minimalistic is my signature: discover the improvisations of my world.”