Artist
Kanica
Laura Vargas Llanas is a Seville-based artist working under the creative name of “Kanica”. Laura’s background was rooted in art history, training in the commercial art world before becoming a fine artist. She graduated from The American University of Paris and Christie’s Education London with a degree in History of Modern and Contemporary Art and has previously worked at Christie’s, Carpenters Workshop Gallery and various leading art institutions. It was this art historical background which led to her becoming an artist.
She says: “While studying history of art I discovered the work of Anni Albers and the weavers of the Bauhaus School, with their belief that every craft object has the potential to be art. I then discovered the work of contemporary fibre artist Sheila Hicks and I was completely drawn to her transformations of textiles into works of art. I wanted to explore those notions myself and translate them into my own vocabulary, with a focus on decorative design.”
Laura is perhaps best-known for her hand-embroidered canvases that embrace and revisit artisanal weaving techniques with a strong design aesthetic. Each embroidered piece is handcrafted in her studio using natural and ethically sourced yarns such as merino and alpaca wool, cotton and jute. She has also more recently created a collection of ceramics which were inspired by lockdown and her Spanish heritage. These “Amphoras” are terracotta vases created in collaboration with an artisan in the South of Spain, which Laura then paints - using the vessel as her canvas. 
Kanica's Style
Laura often starts her creative process by taking inspiration from an object or photograph seen in an exhibition or book, or even from a piece of furniture. She then creates compositions and colour combinations in her sketchbook until she finds the correct balance. She says: “when I work on the embroidered pieces I need to think in terms of shapes and the relationship between them to create a composition, either a rhythmic or a more structured one. I always think in terms of shapes and positive and negative space. As the wool I use is naturally dyed, the colours are very rich and earthy, so I tend to play and mix the shades until I have a combination that I feel works well together.”
Her ceramics came about during the first lockdown in Spain. She abruptly found herself locked at home and ran out of canvases. She explains: “I had a couple of decorative amphoras in my terrace (something quite common in Spain, especially if you live in the south) and I decided to experiment with them and explore how I could adapt my practice into a different medium and format. These particular amphoras are called Cantaros - traditional objects used to keep, preserve or transport liquids.” After lockdown she found a local artisan to work with on a larger collection of these vessels.
“I feel that as creatives, we need to continue stepping outside of our comfort zones, pushing the definition of craftsmanship, design and art, merging disciplines and exploring different mediums to find what suits us best. During these uncertain times specially, I think it is important to be able to adapt to the environment that surrounds us, and experiment with what we have available. In this particular case, I am thrilled I had those cantaros at home!”
“The quote by artist Anni Albers, “Pure forms will never bore us”, is a consistent motto in my line of work. With every composition I seek to find a balance between rhythm and stillness, by combining texture, rudimentary shapes and colour.” - Laura Vargas Llanas
AVAILABLE ARTWORKS
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Artist Takeover at The Surprise
On Tuesday 8th April 2025, our artists took over The Surprise, Chelsea with a display of original art by seven of our artists. Clients were able to meet and learn about the work of Ann-Marie Williamson, Fanny Schultz, Kanica, Josefin Tolstoy, Lucy Whitford, Mary West and Tabby Booth. To celebrate this art takeover the artists have released a selection of new pieces you can now shop below.
March Drop 2025
"'Colour in Construction' is the title of these new series of works that draw inspiration from my love for modernist architecture, colour and geometric abstraction, and the relationship and influences between them. The different shapes evoke a sense of structure and balance and reflect on how buildings, as much as abstract art, can shape our understanding of space, form and symmetry." - Colour in Construction, Kanica
September Drop 2024
"Colour Dialogues and Geometric Blooms" is a collection of vibrant artworks that further explore the interplay of colour, form and texture and how these elements interact to create a compelling visual narrative. Each piece in this new series is a study in contrasts and complements, where vibrant hues meet both geometric composition and organic forms. The works are carefully crafted to highlight the ways in which colours influence one another - for instance, how a deep green can cause an adjacent yellow to vibrate, or how a light pink can soften the impact of a deep blue. The geometric shapes provide structure and balance, acting as a canvas for the colours to play out their interactions. In contrast, the abstract floral elements introduce a sense of movement and fluidity. Overall, the curves and irregularities of natural forms contrast with the hard edges of the geometric pieces, yet explore in similar ways how the viewer perceives and emotionally responds to colour and shape and how both geometric or organic elements can be used to create balance, tension, and harmony within a work of art. Josef Albers quoted “Colours are not merely what they first appear to be. They change - which is to say that our perception of them changes - according to their settings.” - Kanica, Colour Dialogues and Geometric Blooms
May Drop 2024
"Architect and artist Le Corbusier remains a constant source of inspiration in my work. This collection entitled ‘Chromatic Constructs’ has been inspired by his lesser-known, yet profoundly influential paintings, in particular by his work from the 1930s, such as for example ‘Deux bouteilles et le coquetier’ from 1939. Le Corbusier, known primarily for his groundbreaking contributions to modern architecture, also ventured deeply into the realms of visual arts, where he used painting as a field of experimental creativity parallel to this architectural thinking.
In these new series, I wanted to further explore how colour, form and balance interact with each other, and I wanted to echo the principles he championed so fondly in his architectural designs. It is a small homage to a visionary who painted as confidently as he built, influencing generations to perceive colour and form as foundational elements of both art and life." - Kanica, Chromatic Constructs
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Architectural Symphony in Colour Large (Framed) Sold
![Architectural Symphony in Colour Large (Framed)]()
- Regular price
- Sold
- Sale price
- £850.00
- Unit price
- per
March Drop 2024
"In this new series of works entitled "Constructed Minimalism" I wanted to continue my quest of exploring how shapes interact and interplay with each other, by combining different shapes, playing with contrasting colours and intertwining wool in order to "construct" an extra visual layer so as to force the viewer to interact a little deeper with the work of art." - Kanica, Constructed Minimalism
The Debut Home Collection
"I wanted to create a colourful and unique collection of cushions, that embraced the visual language and embroidered style of my canvases and ceramics, while exploring a new technique and medium. Each cushion is made of a hand-embroidered wool on cotton side, combined with a sumptuous colourful velvet fabric on the other side, and finished by a contrasting colour velvet piping. I employed the technique of “punch and needle” for the embroidered work. This allowed me to create more playful and textured designs, using repeated patterns and compositions. My aim was to mix different textures and colours to create a beautiful cushion collection for the home." - Kanica, Cushions by Kanica
