Calico Wallpaper Introduces Swallowtail and Devotion, Two Collections That Find the Beauty in Transformation

New York, NY (November 12, 2026) – This autumn, Calico Wallpaper launches two new collections entitled ‘Swallowtail’ and ‘Devotion,’ designed in-house by Creative Director and Co-Founder Rachel Cope. Inspired by the beauty of transformation, both collections manipulate patterns found in nature through tone and scale.

Swallowtail is a study in metamorphosis, where the delicate anatomy of butterfly wings becomes an immersive display of color, texture, and movement. Each design began by examining the intrinsic motifs unique to the wings, then is carefully painted, expanded, and reimagined into sweeping abstractions. Subtle shifts in tone and scale create a sense of depth, drawing the eye across the surface as if tracing the contours of a living form. At once ethereal and grounded, Swallowtail evokes the quiet drama of the inherent transformation of butterflies’ anatomy. It brings a sense of wonder into the built environment, transforming walls into atmospheric compositions that feel alive, luminous, and constantly unfolding.

“Creating both collections was truly informative, as artistic methods allowed me to closely explore the breathtaking patterns we cherish in nature,” says Rachel Cope. “I experimented with different techniques to bring each collection to life. For Swallowtail, I juxtaposed fragments of wings with iconic paintings, including Hilma af Klint’s The Ten Largest, No. 9, Old Age. By contrast, I dip-dyed paper for Devotion, becoming physically immersed in the process. Ultimately, I realized that both collections share an ability to pause and magnify fleeting moments of transformation.”

Devotion is a study of color, light, and atmosphere, exploring how specific hues can evoke balance, energy, and reflection. The artwork was created by dip-dyeing large sheets of paper in expansive dye baths, allowing pigments to flow, settle, and merge organically. Soft washes of blue, green, and neutral tones dissolve into one another, referencing horizons, shifting skies, and light reflected across water. Each composition balances subtle color interactions with an open, contemplative aesthetic, creating a quiet and restorative presence.

Together, Swallowtail and Devotion are manifestations of an in-depth study on the color interactions that happen during transformative instances. Through an enlarged lens, each composition introduces an atmospheric abstraction of light and color.

SWALLOWTAIL COLORWAYS

Clockwise: Bluff, Driftwood, Fallow, Hollow, Land, Tangle

DEVOTION COLORWAYS

Clockwise: Ardor, Breath, Cherish, Incant, Respite, Union, Vow

Calico Wallpaper is printed on PVC-free clay-coated paper. The brand employs advanced technologies to translate the designs to be utilized for their new ordering system, Panorama. This streamlined process maintains the custom nature that the brand is known for, allowing for a more efficient ordering process to reduce lead-time to as little as four weeks. Swallowtail and Devotion will be available for purchase and sample orders as of November 12, 2026 through www.calicowallpaper.com.

MEDIA CONTACT

calicowallpaper@camronglobal.com

ABOUT CALICO WALLPAPER

Calico Wallpaper is a designer of bespoke wallpaper. The company was founded in Brooklyn, New York, in 2013 by creative and life partners Nicholas and Rachel Cope. Their process combines artisanal methods from the decorative arts, such as traditional marbling and dip-dyeing techniques, with innovative technologies. Calico Wallpaper works with a global roster of leading designers and architects. In addition to residential and hospitality projects, Calico Wallpaper’s designs have been exhibited internationally at Milan Design Week and London Design Festival and have obtained a place in the permanent collection at Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. In 2021, Calico Wallpaper opened its first showroom at 57 Lispenard Street, New York, NY, with partner and furniture manufacturer Stellar Works.