Anyi Botteri shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Anyi, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Lately, what’s bringing me joy is seeing myself as a multipotential artist.
For many years, I’ve expressed my creativity in many forms, mostly through handmade projects.
Beyond my flower pressing work, I find myself filming, sewing, embroidering, painting, writing, singing, creating collages, and more.
I’m truly enjoying this moment in my life where I recognize and fully embrace myself as a creative soul.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi! I’m Anyi Botteri, a pressed flower artist, artisan, and founder of Ayni Artesana, a creative space where I honor and preserve the beauty of nature through the art of flower pressing. At Ayni Artesana, I focus on preserving the most authentic shape, texture, and color of each flower and plant. I intentionally avoid cutting petals or altering their natural form because I believe there’s something truly special in capturing their original essence, just as nature created it.
Through this artistic practice, I invite others to slow down, reconnect with their hearts, and rediscover their bond with the natural world. I love sharing this process by leading workshops that combine creativity, healing, and nature.
In addition to my botanical work, I’m also a multidisciplinary artist and a creative professional in the art and production departments of the audiovisual and film industry.
The name Ayni Artesana has deep personal meaning. Ayni is a Quechua word from Peru that expresses reciprocity: “I’ll help you from my heart, and one day, reciprocity will guide us back to one another.” This concept was passed down to me by my grandparents and has shaped the way I live and create. Ayni is not just the name of my project, it’s a way of being, rooted in gratitude, community, and mutual care.
In Spanish, arte means art and sana means heals; so arte sana becomes art heals, while artesana means artisan.
So, Ayni Artesana is more than a name, it’s a way of living: art that heals, knowledge shared with love, and community grounded in reciprocity.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child, I believed I had to choose just one thing to be really good at, that focusing on a single path was the only way to find success and be recognized. I thought being “good at many things” meant I was scattered or unsure of myself. But over time, I’ve come to fully embrace my multipotential nature. Now, I see my varied interests and creative pursuits not as distractions, but as gifts that help me explore, grow, and bring a richer perspective to everything I do. Letting go of that limiting belief has been incredibly freeing and has allowed me to truly embrace who I am as an artist and creator.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could say one kind thing to my younger self, it would be this:
Keep believing in your dreams and continue working toward them, even when the path feels unclear.
You started working from such a young age, and every step, every effort, has mattered more than you realize. When it feels like there are no opportunities made for you, create them. Invent them. Shape them with your hands, your heart, and your vision.
Put your love into everything you do. That love is what will carry you through. Knock on every door, and when you find none, build your own. Your path is not something to find, it’s something you are already creating. Trust that.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
A belief I’m committed to no matter how long it takes, is helping us remember that we are not separate from nature. We are part of it, and we simply can’t live without it. Through my art space, Ayni Artesana, I’m dedicated to creating moments that invite people to slow down, reconnect with the Earth, and feel a sense of peace between ourselves and the natural world.
I truly believe that art has the power to awaken awareness, to help us understand that nature isn’t just something beautiful, it’s essential to our well-being. And when we recognize that, we begin to care for it with more love, respect, and responsibility. Even if it takes a lifetime, I’ll keep using my hands, my heart, and my art to protect and honor Mother Earth.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace after months of quietly pressing flowers, when it’s time to share them in a workshop. There’s something sacred about watching others create with what once grew from the earth, each person choosing colors, shapes, and stories to make something uniquely their own.
I also find peace in seeing people fully immersed in their creative process, and especially when, by the end, they’ve connected deeply with their inner selves and with nature. That quiet exchange… that’s where peace lives for me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/ayni.artesana
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ayni.artesana/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/A-Y-N-I/61550743304991/#
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ayni.artesana
Image Credits
Piero Botteri
Anyi Botteri
