Team Interview: Artist Johanna Palmieri
We are so lucky to call painter Johanna Palmieri both a friend and team member.
If you’ve been on one of our Oaxaca trips or recent Morocco trips, you’ve likely had the chance to meet her. And if you’ve been on any of our trips in the past two years, you’ve likely emailed her. She works tirelessly in the Thread Caravan spreadsheets and operations systems, hosts groups, and even designs our tote bags and takes trip photos.
When Johanna isn’t working for Thread Caravan, she is most certainly being creative in some other way. Johanna is a painter, she founded and runs a shared artist studio Ojo del Sol, and is almost always doing a DIY home renovation project.
While I’ve had the personal privilege of getting to know her, I wanted our extended community to have a deeper introduction to her and her work. Below, I talk with Johanna about the start of her creative journey, where she finds inspiration and more.
Where are you from? What are some of your earliest memories of creative expression?
I grew up primarily in Pittsburgh, PA, and Raleigh, NC. However, I’ve always been very fond of moving because it feels like a fresh start. I left Pittsburgh at 18 to attend university in Bloomington, IN, before moving to Portland, OR, after graduating. Six years ago, I moved to Oaxaca, which now feels like my true home.
Some of my earliest memories of creative expression, funnily enough, don’t involve drawing or painting but rather playing dress-up. I loved imagining stories and pretending to be a character from the past. A little later, I began focusing more on my love of drawing—back then, it was all about fairies.
What was it like moving to Oaxaca? What made you choose Oaxaca?
Back in 2016, I began planning a trip to Mexico with my partner, Milan. Our plan was simple: spend 10 days in Mexico City before returning to Portland. However, Milan’s godfather, who he is very close to, had visited Oaxaca in the 1970s and again in the early 2000s, and the experience left a lasting impression on him. He encouraged us to set aside a few days to visit Oaxaca. We ended up reserving three days here, and it was love at first sight.
I love to travel and have had amazing experiences, but nothing ever gave me such a profound sense of home. Once we returned to Portland, I couldn’t get Oaxaca out of my mind. A year and a half later, we moved here.
Oaxaca is our home, but it isn’t an easy place to live in the traditional sense. In some ways—like finding community—it surpasses anywhere I’ve ever lived. However, it also made me confront some ingrained habits and expectations from growing up in the States. I’ve become a much more patient person. I also absolutely love the old-fashioned way things work here, despite the inconveniences.
How do you feel living in Oaxaca has impacted your art practice?
I feel it’s not so much the place that has impacted my work, but the people. My work revolves around my love for people, tactile experiences, and exploration (both physical and emotional). The community I’ve found here has been incredibly supportive, free of the competitive edge that artists might experience in a big city.
If you could travel to any place in the world for creative inspiration, where would it be?
What a difficult choice! Right now, I’m especially looking forward to exploring India for the first time. I want to experience its movement and chaos, its vibrant colors and light. Visiting India has been a dream of mine for many years.
What informs your current style?
Right now, I’m exploring collage techniques to evoke the sensation of distant memories or imagined experiences. In this process, photography plays a significant role in my research. I’ve been diving deep into my own photography and drawing inspiration from vintage National Geographic magazines that I purchase from a local bookshop.
Who are three of your favorite artists right now?
Alex Kanevsky, Dean Fox and Tomo Campbell
In what ways are you working to develop your current practice/approach?
I’m always looking for classes to learn painting techniques and stay inspired by what other contemporary artists are doing. I also love attending artist residencies, as they allow me to fully immerse myself in the creative flow, free from the usual daily distractions.
What is your favorite way to get to know a new place?
When I arrive in a new place, I love seeking out the highest point—whether it’s a bell tower, a hill, or something similar—to take in the entire landscape at once. It’s also a wonderful excuse to take a long walk and explore parts of the area that might not be on the typical beaten path.
Current home reno project?
My back patio/garden area!
And of course I couldn’t resist a little Thread Caravan shout out…You’ve traveled with us both hosting and participating in trips in Oaxaca, Guatemala, Morocco and Iceland. What is your favorite Thread Caravan trip experience so far?
Rather than pick just one experience that moved me—almost impossible to choose!—I’ll share a small highlight from each trip. Gliding over Lake Atitlán in Guatemala in our lancha, the sun on my face and the wind in my hair as we sped toward the small village of San Antonio Palopó. Feeling the heat rising from a pile of freshly cooked ceramics in the earthen oven of Mama Aïcha in Aïn Bouchrik. Clutching the reins of an Icelandic horse as we traversed cold volcanic terrain. And seeing my home, Oaxaca, through the eyes of someone experiencing it for the very first time.
What is your favorite part about hosting Thread Caravan trips?
Spending time with people from all walks of life who respect and honor the traditional crafts of each place is incredibly fulfilling. Also, building relationships with artisans whose work continues to inspire me.
