Karen Borga
Fiber Artist
My Collaboration with Nature
Through fleece, fiber, and natural materials, my work emerges through a collaboration with nature.
Studio
Rooted in generations of handwork, my practice explores the transformation of raw materials through weaving, spinning, dyeing, and feltmaking. Each piece begins with curiosity and unfolds through a collaboration between maker, material, and nature.
Fiber
Every piece begins with fiber.
Raw fleece, yarn, and natural materials are gathered, studied, and explored before they become cloth, felt, or finished work. Through observation, experimentation, and making, I seek to understand the character of each material and the possibilities it holds.
These studies form the foundation of my weaving, feltmaking, natural dye, and textile work.
Notes from the Studio
My Palette Begins with Fleece
When people imagine an artist’s studio, they often picture shelves lined with paint—rows of colors waiting to become a landscape, a portrait, or an abstract work. My studio has shelves too. But instead of tubes of paint, they’re filled with fleece. Romney. Icelandic….
Why Wool Is My Medium
Why did wool become my lifelong medium? The answer isn’t simply about texture or technique—it’s about listening to a material that already knows what it wants to become.
The Part We Rush Through
There is a part of almost every project I’m tempted to rush through. Not because I don’t love it. Because I’m so eager for what comes next. Yesterday I was preparing my loom to weave a baby blanket. The pattern was ready. The colors were chosen. The yarn was measured…