Iliana Barbeito

Iliana Barbeito and Karina Moner are the creators of Ancestral, a design project dedicated to unique, handmade pieces where contemporary aesthetics intertwine with ancient wisdom.

Our textile sculptures are built using natural fibers and the recovery of traditional macramé techniques, reinterpreted through a modern lens. Through manual craftsmanship, we investigate the expressive potential of fiber as a sculptural medium, developing contemporary fiber art that exceeds the utilitarian. We find in weaving a means of material exploration that brings texture, scale, and the inherent time of artisanal processes to the forefront.

These textile pieces are an invitation to contemplation. The intricate patterns and hand-knotted structures transmit a vibration that tunes into harmony and stillness, creating environments that foster introspection and transformation. More than decorative objects, these tapices are pieces that inhabit and transform the space, bringing an enveloping quality that invites one to pause, breathe, and reconnect.

Trained in Textile Design at the Escuela Universitaria Centro de Diseño (Montevideo, Uruguay), our practice integrates academic background with inherited knowledge from a family tradition passed down through generations.