Evelina Kroon: A Modern Revival of the Rya Rug
text Ulrika Lindqvist
With her precise yet playful approach to color and form, Evelina Kroon brings new life to one of Scandinavia’s oldest crafts. In collaboration with Layered, she reinterprets the traditional rya rug, transforming a functional textile into a tactile piece of contemporary art.
Ulrika Lindqvist: Can you tell us how long you’ve been working as an artist, and what first inspired you to pursue a career in this field?
Evelina Kroon: I’ve somehow been involved in art for as long as I can remember. I started attending art school as a kid, mostly because my parents encouraged it early on, and over time it just became a natural part of who I am, what I’ve studied and what I do. It hasn’t been a perfectly straight path. There have been detours and periods of uncertainty. But art has always been the one thing I’ve felt truly connected to, and the thing I know best?
Since then, it’s been a mix of dedication and a few lucky opportunities that have allowed me to keep working. Every step, whether planned or unexpected, has shaped how I see my practice today.
photography Andy Liffner
UL: This collection focuses on the rya rug, a craft with roots in 13th-century Norway. What drew you to center the collection around this traditional technique, and did it present any creative challenges?
EK: The idea actually came from Layered, but I’ve always been a fan of rya rugs, both for their comfort and their aesthetic. There’s something about that texture and warmth and they are timeless.
Rya has such an interesting history: originally made in 13th-century Norway as functional bed covers, woven with long wool piles for insulation against the cold. Over time, they evolved into richly patterned decorative textiles, combining practicality with artistry which I find very inspiring.
So while the starting point wasn’t entirely mine, I couldn’t resist the opportunity to explore this craft further. And honestly, I think it’s about time for a dignified comeback of this iconic dust collector, don’t you?
UL: I absolutely do! Could you walk us through your creative process? Do you have any routines or rituals that help spark inspiration?
EK: I have a specific method, it’s a ritual in itself. Within that structure, I allow myself a lot of freedom. It’s strict, but I’ve learned it over time. I work with grid patterns as a tool, always subordinated to color, focusing on frequency, spacing, filling, and layering.
Talking about inspiration is tricky for me. It’s everywhere, really. In words, in pauses, in both the beautiful and the ugly. It’s less a single moment and more a constant presence that informs my work.
UL: Are there any particular projects or moments in your career that stand out as especially memorable?
EK: There are definitely memorable moments, even if I don’t always notice them at the time. Everything feels connected, and I’m just grateful to keep creating. Every project, big or small, shapes my practice in its own way
UL: How does working with textiles and furniture differ from creating on canvas or with tape?
EK: It’s mainly about scale and material, of course. Working with textiles and furniture allows me to lighten and translate my work into something more accessible. Just turning it into an everyday object that people can interact with in a different way, that’s something else.
UL: You’ve collaborated with Layered before, what feels different about this partnership, and how was it to continue working together?
UL: Layered was one of my first collaborations, and it’s always felt like a safe and inspiring space. For me, it’s really the people working there that make me keep coming back. We’ve found a way of working that just works, so why not continue?
UL: How did you choose the location for the campaign shoot?
EK: We felt it was a perfect, beautiful contrast — exactly the kind of balance I like to aim for.
UL: And finally, what are you most looking forward to in 2026?
EK: December. When I finally see what it all turned out to be. And after that, I hope it can start over again and again.
