"Drawing on processes of handcraft and an intuitive engagement with surface and structure, Junele constructs works that resist excess and embrace stillness—each piece a meditation on the beauty of the overlooked, the rhythm of repetition, and the silent narratives embedded in material decay. Engaging with the language of interior space while rooted in environmental urgency, her work offers not only a visual experience, but a call to reconsider our relationship with waste, care, and the built world around us."
Sandra Junele is a pioneering textile artist whose work confronts the complexities of sustainability, materiality, and design. Based in Dundee, Scotland, her practice transforms discarded yarn waste into stunning sculptural installations that challenge conventional notions of beauty and value. Through a minimalist yet profoundly tactile approach, Junele elevates the discarded to the realm of fine art, creating works that transcend their materials to evoke deep reflections on the human relationship with the environment.
Born in Latvia, Junele’s formative years were shaped by her grandfather’s resourceful approach to craftsmanship, where no material was too insignificant to be repurposed. This early exposure to the transformative power of recycling ignited her lifelong commitment to sustainability, and her work continues to resonate with a deeply personal commitment to the planet. In her hands, waste is not simply discarded material—it becomes a canvas for artistic innovation, redefined as something of both aesthetic and ethical significance.
Junele’s exceptional artistry has garnered significant recognition within the design and art worlds. A graduate of Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design in Dundee (BA Hons, Textiles, 2022) and with a diploma in Interior Design from Latvia (2014), she has earned a distinguished reputation for her ability to seamlessly merge art and activism. Her accolades include the Hallmark Connection Award at the New Designers show (London, 2022), the Brora Campaign for Wool Award (2020), and a notable victory in a design competition at V&A Dundee, where her work was displayed alongside the Mary Quant exhibition. Her work has also been featured in prominent publications such as Interiors Monthly, The Skinny, and Let’s Knit.