Liza in India
When I first saw a hand knotted swatch rug in a Tibetan Store in New York City a few years ago, it seemed so clear to me that I should work in this medium. I designed a few rugs and sold them all through the same store, which led me to the conclusion that I should quit my graphic design job and start my own business. I have since travelled to Nepal and India, learning about different cultures and rug traditions, and have not looked back since.
My lifelong involvement with art is rooted in my family, and growing up in a world of modern art and design. My grandfather was Duncan Phillips, the art collector and founder of the Phillips Collection in Washington, DC. My grandmother and many family members have been artists.
After earning my BA in art history and philosophy at Vassar, I worked on my paintings for two years in Washington, and then moved to New York, where I worked as a set designer for theaters. Later I worked extensively as a freelance architectural watercolorist, attended Skowhegan School of art, and went to London for my MFA in painting. Back in New York, I pursued graphic and web design, and worked at Vanity Fair and other magazines. Since 2004 when I started my rug design business, I have done some teaching and curating. All during this time I have kept up an active exhibition schedule of my paintings, prints and sculptures.
Made of the finest quality Himalayan wool, our hand-knotted rugs are made by Tibetans in the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal. The wool is rich in lanolin oil, which is important both for the absorbtion of the dyes as well as the plush texture for which Tibetan rugs are famous worldwide. Our manufacturers hand spin their wool and use traditional vegetable dyes or eco-friendly Swiss Ciba colors.
