Born: 1980

Studio: London, UK

Education: Wimbledon School of Art

Louisa’s work blends elements from her fine art practice and her intuitive approach to textiles. During her time studying at Wimbledon School of Art, Louisa developed a particular interest in Abstract painting, which continues to ground and guide her work across a range of mediums.

Working from her studio in Peckham, Louisa’s practice is focused on the beautifully simple, slow art of hand-carved block printing. Having spent many years researching the craft, she draws particular inspiration from the processes involved in traditional Indian block printing, and her practice interweaves Eastern folk art traditions with forms and patterns familiar to western languages of abstraction. As a self-taught block printer, she approaches fabric like a painting - or one of her charcoal drawings - creating delicate, twisting patterns that repeat themselves across its surface. Distinctive in their simple use of geometric form, monochromatic palette and signature dash of hand-painted colour, Louisa’s hand-carved block printed patterns are charged with a human touch, the irregularities that appear in the printing process giving each piece a distinct energy and identity.

Current Exhibitions

Past Exhibitions

Endangered Craft | Bluecoat Display centre | Liverpool, UK | 11th July - 6th September 2025

Allotment Show | Stuart road Allotments, Nunhead, London | 28th - 29th September 2024

ROYAL ACADEMY OF ARTS | SUMMER EXHIBITION 2024 | 18TH JUNE - 18TH AUGUST 2024

Window135| London Craft Week 2024 | New Cross, London | 5th -19th May 2024

THE TEXTILE ASSEMBILY | London Craft Week 2024 | Staffordshire St Gallery, Peckham, London | 13th -19th May 2024

MAKER. MATERIAL. METHOD. | London Craft Week 2024 | Islington, London | 13th - 19th May 2024

Craft Show| Group Show | AMP Gallery | Peckham, London | 2023

Monochrome |Ruthin Craft Centre |The Centre for the Applied Arts | Wales | 2021

Peckham Craft Show | Group Show | Copeland Gallery, Peckham, London |2019

The New Craftsmen |Mayfair, London | Various 2015 - 2022

Louisa Loakes Solo Show | Koyoto, Japan | 2019

RATED | Royal Academy of Arts (shop) | London | 2014-2015

The Muse Gallery (residency & Shows) | Notting Hill, London | 2004 - 2005

Publication Contributions

Abstract Textiles | Anne Kelly | Batsford | 2025

Printing with Natural Dyes | Nicola Cliff | The Crowood Press | 2024

Barron and Larcher, Textile Designers | Michal Silver & Sarah Burns | Published ACC ART BOOKS | 2018

Selvedge Magazine | Article

Short Documentary

Southsiders | 2022 | YouTube