Nikole Tursi
‘Mercurius’
Inspired by the limitless power of imagination, Mercurius is a sculptural headpiece symbolising the mind’s freedom. One of the most powerful ways to experience freedom is through the mind: a flying mind can transcend physical boundaries and explore new realms of creativity and understanding.
Crafted from manipulated glass organza, this ethereal piece evokes a pair of wings in mid-flight, capturing a sense of movement, transformation, and weightlessness. Mercurius represents the magic of thought and acts as a gateway to the unseen landscapes of the imagination. The transparency and shimmer of the material enhance the dreamlike quality of the piece, which hovers between reality and fantasy. It is a celebration of creative liberation, a wearable metaphor for the soaring spirit of human thought.
Made in 2022.
Not for sale.
“Mercurius is a contemporary interpretation of millinery heritage, merging traditional craftsmanship with conceptual design. Rooted in classical techniques, I applied flower-making tools and fabric manipulation to honour the legacy of millinery while pushing its boundaries. By working with glass organza in experimental ways, I seek to echo the timeless spirit of the craft while translating it into a language of modern symbolism and artistic expression.
This headpiece reflects how heritage is not static: it is a living force that evolves as it is reimagined through new materials, ideas, and stories. Mercurius bridges past and future, tradition and transformation, embodying the essence of what millinery can be today.”
Materials and Techniques
I constructed a solid wire structure as the foundation for the wings, using traditional millinery techniques. Taking inspiration from the anatomy of real bird wings, I recreated the structure while crafting my own feathers — which, upon closer inspection, reveal themselves as petals and leaves. Each feather was cut from a suitable fabric and sculpted using antique flower-making tools. The shaped petals were then trimmed into their final silhouettes and sealed with fire. This meticulous process was repeated on 912 individual petals, which were hand-stitched in a precise gradient to create a silver tonal transition, both on the inside and outside of the piece.
Millinery Heritage
“I’ve always been deeply attracted to unique, vintage objects, and this fascination naturally led me towards millinery. As I explored various crafts over the years, each one added to my understanding of materials, textures, and techniques, slowly shaping my own distinctive style. My path to becoming a milliner was a gradual one, where I learned the art of millinery through private lessons and experiences, including a significant opportunity to work at the renowned Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires.
What I love most about millinery is that it’s not just about creating hats; it’s about making wearable art. Each piece is a work of craftsmanship that can elevate and empower the person wearing it. Hats have this magical ability to transform an outfit and to express something unique about the wearer, whether through subtle details or bold, sculptural forms.
The heritage of hat-making holds a special place for me because it is a craft deeply rooted in tradition, yet constantly evolving. It’s a perfect balance between honoring timeless techniques and pushing the boundaries of creative expression. For me, it’s not only about preserving history but reinterpreting it in new ways, making it relevant to today’s world while celebrating the legacy of this incredible art form.
While no one in my family has directly worked in millinery, we have always been deeply connected to the world of art and fashion. My grandmother, played a significant role in fostering my early love for textiles and design. She took me to fabric stores, encouraging me to explore the textures and possibilities that would later shape my artistic journey. Throughout my family’s history, creativity has always been a central theme, with several relatives involved in various artistic professions, painting, photography, fashion design, graphic design and architecture. This environment nurtured my passion for craftsmanship and the world of fashion, guiding me toward millinery as a form of self-expression and creative exploration.”
About Nikole Tursi
Nikole Tursi is an Argentinian artist based in London, whose work merges craftsmanship, movement, and materiality into immersive experiences. With a background in fashion and millinery, her artistic path took a transformative turn when she began working at the Teatro Colón Opera House in Buenos Aires. This experience ignited her passion for creating beyond traditional boundaries, leading her to explore the expressive potential of couture, performance, and storytelling.
Her work has been recognized by Comité Colbert and UNESCO, she has worked with prestigious fashion houses and contributed to productions at Opera Houses, gaining a wealth of experience in haute couture and stage design. Nikole is now part of influential communities such as the British Hat Guild, the Royal Ascot Millinery Collective, and the Crafts Council UK. Tursi is also a member of the Michelangelo Foundation, further solidifying her dedication to contemporary craftsmanship and artistic innovation.
Nikole’s work evolves organically, embracing transformation as a key aspect of her creative process. Continuously exploring new dimensions, she collaborates with artists across disciplines to build immersive worlds that invite deeper connections with her creations.
Her journey reflects a desire to transcend categorization, seeing art as an ever-expanding space of exploration. From couture to live performances, from sculpture to storytelling, Nikole merges sensory worlds, living textures, and narratives in motion, crafting experiences that awaken the senses and inspire transformation.