Maximo Laura (Ayacucho, Peru 1959), is an award winning tapestry weaver internationally recognized as one of South America´s pre-eminent and most unique textile artists. He is a consultant, designer and lecturer on art and contemporary Andean textile design. His work is the integration and synthesis of ancestral weaving techniques, symbols, memories, myths and rituals with contemporary art.

Laura is the fifth generation of weavers that learned his craft as a child at the side of his father while growing up in Ayacucho; he learned his art by never silencing the internal self-exploration or the external exploration of the world, including a life long study of art history and literature beyond the borders of Peru.

While he now lives and works in Lima, his work is deeply imbued with the legends and storytelling of his Peruvian heritage and with his own very compelling life experiences. Laura draws from many sources of inspiration, such as Chavin culture which is expressive and totemic; Paracas which is colorful and strong; Nazca and Huari for their geometric forms; and Chancay for its sobriety and linear spirit.

Maximo Laura´s vision proposes the promotion of Peruvian contemporary textile art on international stage, which has been the underlying and fundamental purpose of his artistic mission for the last 30 years.

His work has earned many awards, including “National Living Human Treasure”of Peru, “Manos de Oro” (Golden Hands) of Peru, “National Amauta of Peruvian Craft”, “Master of Iberoamerican Craft” and the UNESCO Prize for Latin America.