Needle and lacework are nothing new. You’ve seen your grandmothers do it. But Ágnes Herczeg, a Hungarian artist, infuses her lacework with contemporary materials, turning them into amazing works of art. And what’s even more incredible is she creates her needle workpieces only a few inches tall.
Herczeg, who was born in Kecskemét, Hungary, majored in textile conservation from the Hungarian University of Fine Arts, Hungary. She states on her website, “Over the years I’ve learned many traditional handicraft techniques. I’ve extensively studied the craft of embroidery and lace-making.” The art she mastered included braiding, macramé, needle lace, pillow lace, and the like.
Herczeg uses yarns, threads and textiles made only from plant-based materials derived from vegetables, fruits, seeds and even the branches of the trees. She complements her works of traditional handicraft with natural wood and ceramic material, using a combination of techniques that she has developed over the years.
Herczeg says, “Design is a significant part of the creative process because I’ve to think through not only the visual appearance of the work but its overall structure and the order of the individual steps.” Of course, what she does isn’t easy. Lace-making, according to her, is the most time-consuming activity and even a small piece can take days to complete.
It isn’t surprising that Herczeg works are being hailed by one and all. Her main focus remains on domestic scenes that portray women as resting or introspecting. She uses threads of all colors, but her favorites seem to be green, orange, brown and blue. She uses them to form decorative motifs, depicting everyday scenes.
Herczeg’s works can be seen on her own website and on social media platforms, such as Instagram. What’s more, you can buy her works online too from her website.
Agnes Herczeg
Website | Instagram