A hand-painted textile collection by the New England-based artist Lea Rutledge — every design beginning as an original watercolour from her studio, then printed on 100% Belgian linen. The work reads as exactly what it is: an artist's record of a particular place, made into cloth.

Lea Rutledge trained as an environmental policy scholar — completing her degree at MIT and later teaching as a faculty member at Boston University. In June 2019, in a quiet hour while her young children napped, she returned to watercolour painting for the first time in fifteen years. Within months she had taught herself textile design; within two years her dining room had become a working studio.
Her textile collection is an extension of her earlier environmental work — a form of conservation through the home. The patterns are drawn from her small New England country town near the sea, where her family has lived for five generations. Beyond the production range, Lea also works on commission, hand-painting bespoke wallpapers and textiles for historic properties and beloved estates connected to environmental and historic preservation.

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Lea Rutledge designs are printed on 100% Belgian linen — a fine, durable, heritage cloth chosen for its hand and longevity. The combined effect of a watercolour-led design on Belgian linen is a textile with genuine softness and pictorial depth.
Suitable for curtaining, upholstery, cushions, headboards, lampshades and soft furnishings across residential, commercial and hospitality interiors.

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Lea Rutledge is available in Australia exclusively through MOTIVO. Because the designs are hand-painted and printed in considered runs on Belgian linen, lead times reflect the making — we're happy to advise on timelines and quantities for specific projects.
Samples, full design specifications and trade pricing are available on request.