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All images © Ýr Jóhannsdóttir, shared with permission

Ýrúrarí’s Knit and Felted Characters Are Cheeky Additions to Mended Garments

Ýr Jóhannsdóttir moves through the world with a second set of eyes—and teeth and brows. The Icelandic artist, who works as Ýrúrarí, has spent the last few years crafting an extensive cast of felted and knitted characters to accompany her throughout the day. Many of her designs take the idea of tongue-in-cheek humor literally, with balaclavas encircled with mouths and masks embellished with playful grins.

Much of Jóhannsdóttir’s practice revolves around sustainability and transforming garments and materials otherwise destined for the landfill. Her works rely on mending and using scraps to create cheeky wearables beaming with personality.

the artist wears a balaclava with tongues sticking out around it
Created in collaboration with Ásgerður Heimsidóttir. Photo by Hrafnhildur Heiða Sandholt

If you’re in Copenhagen, see Jóhannsdóttir’s works in a group exhibition on view through January 28 at Nordatlantens Brygge. Her Pizza Time project, which used leftovers from the wool industry to create fiber-rich pies, was also recently nominated for Iceland’s Design Awards. Follow updates on Instagram.

the artist wears a green sweater with eyes and a pink nose and reaches over to greet a sweater character sitting on a chair
Photo by Studio Fræ
a person wears a balaclava with two large tongues coming out form a mouth and wrapping around the head
Created in collaboration with Ásgerður Heimsidóttir. Photo by Hrafnhildur Heiða Sandholt
a person wears a balaclava with large lips, teeth, and several tongues
Created in collaboration with Ásgerður Heimsidóttir. Photo by Hrafnhildur Heiða Sandholt
the artist wears a sweater with two eyes
three sweater characters sit around a living room
Photo by Studio Fræ

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