about
Alexandra Karamallis is a New York based textile designer who earned her B.F.A. from Rhode Island School of Design in 2010. She has been designing accessories for Ralph Lauren ever since.
Throughout her career designing for Ralph Lauren, she has kept a studio in Greenpoint where she paints, knits, and makes jewelry.
Her work has sold at Bird’s three Brooklyn locations, British Home Emporium in Madison, New Jersey, and Boxwoods Cafe in Chatham, New Jersey.
She has also done freelance design and consulting for several New York based design companies.
Ever since her developmental years at RISD, her work has centered around the themes of her Iranian heritage, Iran as a forbidden place due to her identification with the Baha’i Faith, and the oppression of women in the Middle East.
Her watercolors will be featured in a multi-artist show in Cape Town, South Africa this upcoming July. The show will take place in the Irma Stern Museum and has been curated by well renowned South African designer, Michael Chandler of Chandler House.
Alexandra Karamallis is a New York-based textile designer who earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Rhode Island School of Design in 2010. Her Iranian heritage is a central theme of her work.Identifying as a member of the Baha’i Faith - an oppressed minority in Iran - she explores themes including the oppression of women, art and minority faiths within the context of oppressive authoritarian regimes.
Alexandra travels to Cape Town annually and has been captivated by the beauty of the land, vegetation, people and rich culture. She aims to draw attention to beauty in diversity, with particular emphasis on marginalized cultures, through the depiction of gardens, the juxtaposition of nature with architecture, and depictions of the land. She strives to make art that is at once thought provoking and joyful.
“If the flowers of a garden were all of one color, the effect would be monotonous to the eye; but if the colors are variegated, it is most pleasing and wonderful. The difference in adornment of color and capacity of reflection among the flowers gives the garden its beauty and charm. Therefore, although we are of different individualities, different in ideas and of various fragrances, let us strive like flowers of the same divine garden to live together in harmony. Even though each soul has its own individual perfume and color, all are reflecting the same light, all contributing fragrance to the same breeze which blows through the garden, all continuing to grow in complete harmony and accord.” -Abdu’l-Baha