THE WORRY KEEPER by artist Ioanna Tsouka of Anima ex Manus Art Dolls

She gathers the small, restless thoughts that cling to us, holding each one with quiet devotion.

Nothing is dismissed, nothing is too small; every anxious fragment is collected, contained, and gently stilled.

She keeps vigil over the worries we can no longer carry, so the mind can rest and the heart can breathe again.

Dimensions - approx. 45 cm/ 17.7’’ tall, incl. the dome on her head

Mixed media - paperclay, polymer clay, beads, variety of textiles, such as silk, lace, tulle, felt, trims and silk threads. She is painted with acrylics, soft pastels and colored pencils, and sealed with matte and gloss varnish. She can be displayed with a doll stand (not included), seated with some back support, or hang on the wall (loop included).

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Ioanna Tsouka is a special education teacher by day, but moonlights as a doll maker.

She created "Anima ex Manus" in March 2015, when she decided to leave her home country (Greece) and start a new life in a Northern European city; a new beginning that took all the weight off her shoulders, in a way that she could breathe free again.

Each one of her pieces is handmade and unique, telling their own tales "of woe and misfortune".

What Ioanna loves most about her work is the connection that it creates between her and the world, collectors, artists, and everyone that supports and encourages her artistic endeavours. Ioanna believes that it's truly a magical thing: when her work resonates with people on a deeply emotional, almost subconscious level, leaving space for interpretation through the metaphors and symbolisms integrated in her dolls and stories. It feels as if we're all weaving our most well-hidden secrets into the fabric of this world, each one telling their own tales and narratives, and altogether telling a bigger story.

Browse more of Ioanna's works here:

https://cactusgalleryla.com/collections/anima-ex-manus-art-dolls-at-cactus-gallery