Heather Chontos, a self-taught multidisciplinary artist, has built an international reputation for her vivid abstract works, where bold colour palettes and energetic forms dominate the canvas.

Currently based on a horse farm in Portugal, Chontos draws daily inspiration from the surrounding landscape and ever-changing light. Her creative journey began in the Hudson Valley, New York, but a formative trip to southern France at age 13 ignited a lifelong passion for cultural exploration and artistic expression. Over the years, she has collaborated with high-profile design brands, including a standout project for Ligne Roset’s 50th anniversary Togo sofa in partnership with Pierre Frey, and her work has been showcased in major cities like New York, London, and Paris. Celebrated in both the art and design spheres, Chontos is also a recipient of the prestigious Elle Deco International Design Award.

LAYERED recently announced a new collaboration with Heather, unveiling a striking collection of hand-knotted rugs that reinterpret her abstract artworks through the lens of expert textile craftsmanship. Fusing Chontos’ expressive visual language with LAYERED’s renowned design sensibility, the collection features three rugs crafted from 100% New Zealand wool.

I admire Heather’s artistry and her ability to capture movement and energy in her work. Translating that feeling into rugs was a creative challenge that demanded both precision and craftsmanship. The result is truly something special – rugs that are more than just decor, they are works of art in themselves. With this collection, we are raising the standard for what a handmade rug can be”, says Malin Glemme, Creative Director and Founder of LAYERED.

Chontos, who takes inspiration from nature and the intricate details of her surroundings, faced the challenge of translating the vitality of her paintings into woven form, an undertaking that demanded both technical precision and artistic sensitivity. Each rug in the collection takes between five and ten days to produce, depending on size, with a team of two to three artisans working meticulously to achieve the intricate detail. Up to 15 different yarn shades are used per piece, requiring frequent colour changes and strict adherence to the pattern.

“It’s more challenging than you’d think to translate a flat surface into another and still retain the feeling. Getting it right is key. I was so pleasantly surprised when I saw the first samples – they truly capture the color, texture, and most importantly the light of the original paintings. I’m impressed by how dynamic they are – they feel almost theatrical, like they truly understand my work”, explains Heather Chontos.

Traditional hand-knotting techniques have been employed to create the complex textures and structures, while a range of dyeing methods, including space dyeing, solid dyeing, and abrash, bring depth, movement, and natural variation to each design. Once weaving is complete, yarns are individually washed and the final form is refined through detailed hand-cutting.

The series comprises three distinct rugs, Kaleidoscope, Collage, and Blue Lake, each drawing from different moments and locations in Chontos’ global artistic journey. With their high-quality New Zealand wool and careful craftsmanship, the rugs offer both visual impact and enduring comfort.

These works reflect different stages of my process, from creating collages from antique book pages, to painting with oil pigment sticks directly onto linen. ‘Collage’ is one of my personal favorites – it was created from torn pieces of old film posters and pages from French magazines. I was gifted a suitcase full of antique papers in different colors and textures and pieced them together into a painting. The rug captures exactly that feeling – the textures, the richness of the colors, and their quality”, says Heather Chontos.

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