The Dowry from Psiloritis: A Work of Art in Washington!
The Cretan Weave in Washington

This remarkable feat is thanks to the artistic vision of Greek-American artist Irini Linardaki, whose Cretan heritage inspired a series of collages for the MET Lounge at Union Station in Washington, D.C. Her work aims to highlight the vibrant diversity of the U.S. capital.

By incorporating fabrics from the many cultures that call Washington home, Linardaki’s pieces blend architectural elements of the station—such as views of the grand departure hall and intricate ceiling designs—with references to the trains themselves.

 

The Washington Station Hosting the Artwork

 

Among the fabrics featured in her collages is a deeply personal element: her great-grandmother’s wedding blanket from Crete.

From the Villages of Psiloritis

“My great-grandmother Anna Pagomenou’s wedding blanket,” says Linardaki in an interview with “P,” “is a central element of my new work,I See the Sky from Where I Am,and a source of inspiration.”

The Blanket Woven in 1911

Anna Pagomenou, originally from the village of Gonies on Mount Psiloritis, wove the blanket during her engagement in preparation for her wedding in 1911. Passed down through generations—from Anna to her daughter and later to Linardaki’s mother—this heirloom now belongs to the artist herself.

For Linardaki, the blanket is more than a relic; it is a tangible connection between past and present. It symbolizes heritage, migration, and the universal human experience of carrying pieces of one’s origins to new places.

“As an artist working with textiles and patterns,” she explains, “I saw in this blanket more than just a family heirloom—it represents my identity, my story, and Crete’s cultural heritage.”

This cherished piece is now part of I See the Sky from Where I Am, a permanent art installation at Washington’s Union Station. Through this work, Anna’s blanket becomes a living vessel of history and emotion, bridging generations and cultures while creating a dialogue between tradition and modernity.

A Piece of the Station's History

“My work draws from personal narratives and materials to capture the essence of memory, heritage, and resilience over time.” Two neighboring collages in the series depict a century-old tree, symbolizing unity and growth within the American nation, and a patterned landscape representing a journey along the East Coast, weaving together themes of history, travel, and cultural diversity.

Celebrating Multiculturalism

“This installation,” Linardaki notes, “located in the MET Lounge of Union Station, consists of three collages that celebrate the multicultural vibrancy of the U.S. capital.”

The pieces merge architectural elements of the station—such as the grand departure halls and vaulted ceilings—with fabrics that represent the many cultures that shape life in Washington.

The central artwork offers a panoramic view of the Union Station hall, where a Caryatid reappears as the station’s muse. The piece pays tribute to a statue that once adorned the hall in 1908 but mysteriously disappeared in 1913, later replaced by Roman legionnaires.

The Caryatid, a carved female figure often depicted supporting architectural weight, embodies strength and grace while serving as a nod to the lost Caryatids of the Parthenon. By combining Beaux-Arts style elements with traditional and modern textiles, the work transforms the space into a cultural tapestry.

“My great-grandmother’s Cretan wedding blanket, woven in 1911, adds a personal touch to this series of works. In this way, it intertwines the past with the present, linking tradition to migration stories and the creation of new homes.”

The textiles “dressing” the station bring a feminine touch to its architecture, highlighting the human aspect within its historical and cultural journey.

Previous Works

This is not the first time Irini Linardaki has created large-scale public artworks. Last year, she showcased a widely acclaimed installation at Penn Station in New York, drawing praise from thousands of Americans and international visitors.

Ms. Irini Linardaki

Titled Working Background, the piece was co-created with artist Chitra Ganesh. “This project holds great significance for me,” Linardaki remarked at the time, “as my father spent most of his life as a bus driver, and I often accompanied him, seeing the city through his eyes.”

From Manhattan to Westchester, and from Newark to Brooklyn, Linardaki has brought color and life to the gray concrete neighborhoods of New York and New Jersey, as noted in a feature by the National Herald.

Since 2014, Linardaki, who splits her time between Crete and New York, has completed over ten public projects in New York City schools, murals in Brooklyn and Queens, and installations across Manhattan, sidewalks, and buildings in Newark.

Born in Greece and educated in France, Linardaki’s work has been exhibited at prestigious venues, including the Boijmans Museum in Rotterdam, the Onassis Cultural Center in Athens, Salon de Montrouge in Paris, as well as in Freiburg, Geneva, Hamburg, and New York.

She has also collaborated with the New York City government to bring her art to public spaces across the city.