Marie Gnanaraj (b. 1950) is a textile designer based in Colombo, Sri Lanka. With over five decades of experience in handloom weaving, she continues to push the boundaries of textile design, exploring its structural and textural possibilities.
Gnanaraj experiments with handloom to develop unique designs, focusing on the interplay between structures and textures within textiles. Moving away from the two-dimensionality of fabric, she designs three-dimensional structures with depth, using architectural elements, tactile everyday materials such as coir, wire, and wood, alongside colours composed by precise thread crossings. She is committed to traditional textile weaving processes and uses them to challenge the boundaries of textile design through innovative material use and textural and sculptural experimentation.
Gnanaraj began her journey with textiles as an apprentice to Barbara Sansoni in the 1970s, and held the position of the Design Director of Textile at Barefoot for three decades. Her work is prominently featured at spaces, including Heritance Kandalama in Dambulla and Cinnamon Bentota Beach.