Olivia Géraud (FR)

Olivia Géraud is an international recipient of the Eta Award, which supports artists up to the age of 29 who stand out with exceptional works in handcrafted techniques. The French artist specialises in tapestry weaving. She develops a personal body of work grounded in her solid savoir-faire and complementary creative practices. Olivia pursues the idea that tapestry weaving is, quite literally, the step-by-step construction of an image—a process that requires skill—but she also believes it possesses inherent and autonomous qualities that go beyond technique.

Jury statement by eta award selector Nina Glavič: The work stands out for its remarkable sensitivity and inventive use of handcrafted textile techniques. Her pieces combine delicate textile forms with movement and a strong sense of spatial experience, creating an encounter that is both tactile and meditative. Through manual methods, she constructs spatial compositions that act as poetic interventions, subtly engaging the senses and imagination. The Eta Award supports emerging artists, and with this awarded work, Géraud affirms her position among a younger generation of artists who are shaping the future of textile art through craftsmanship, sensitivity, and a contemporary vision.