Eleanor Lakelin
‘I peel back bark to reveal the organic chaos that can exist in the material itself and build up layers of texture through carving and sandblasting. I use the vessel form and surface pattern to explore the layers and fissures between creation and decay and the erosion of nature.’ – Eleanor Lakelin
A connection to the past is profound in Eleanor Lakelin’s work; she is fascinated by wood as a living, breathing substance with its own history of growth and struggle, centuries beyond our own. Her sculptural objects made in Horse Chestnut are created using a traditional woodworking lathe and centuries-old chisels and gouges, alongside modern tools and carving techniques. Her vessels appear like archaeological objects pulled from the ground; classical forms are referenced and smooth surfaces, reminiscent of ossified matter, rhythmically yield to knotted sections of burr.
Engaging in sustainable practices, Eleanor works only with trees grown in Britain and felled due to decay. A deep knowledge and a passionate interest in the natural properties of wood result in forms that seem true to the spirit of the material and which encourage us to look at the complexities of nature with a new perspective. Material is transformed into objects that invite touch and reflection, reminding us of our emotional bond with wood and, in turn, our wider relationship to the elemental earth.
Eleanor’s work is exhibited internationally and is part of prestigious private and public collections, including the Museum of Arts and Design, New York; Victoria & Albert Museum, UK; the Museum of London, UK; the Mint Museum of Craft and Design, USA and the National Museum in Oslo. In 2020, she received a major commission from Reading Museum, supported by the CAS Rapid Response Fund and in partnership with Frieze London, to create a piece which memorialises Reading Gaol’s most famous inmate, Oscar Wilde. The artist is the recipient of notable awards and commendations, including a QEST Scholarship in 2018; winner of the Bespoke Category of the British Wood Awards in 2017; nomination for the Perrier-Jouët Arts Salon Prize in 2014; and The Cockpit Arts / Worshipful Company of Turners Award in 2011. Most recently Eleanor has been selected as a finalist for the Loewe Foundation Craft Prize 2022.
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Sculpting nature's beautiful chaos
Homo Faber Guide -
In The Studio: Eleanor Lakelin
Emma Crichton-Miller, The Design Edit, February 24, 2021 -
The CAS Rapid Response Fund supports museums and communities in Reading, Liverpool and Glasgow as donations pass £200,00
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The contemporary British artisans revitalising the art of wood craft
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Eleanor Lakelin's stunning vessels and sculptures carved and chiselled from wood
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Gallerist Sarah Myerscough on elevating craft to fine art
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Going with the grain: wood is the interiors material of 2017, as this award celebrating innovative designer makers shows
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Meet the Makers
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Signature Object
Signature in Wood Webinar. Glenn Adamson in conversation with Eleanor Lakelin, Ernst Gamperl and Christopher Kurtz November 2, 2021 -
Eleanor Lakelin in conversation with Corinne Julius
July 21, 2021 -
Eleanor Lakelin & Sarah Myerscough
Crafted Conversation May 13, 2021 -
Eleanor Lakelin
January 29, 2021 -
Eleanor Lakelin & Annie Warburton
January 5, 2021The second in our new series of talks between artist-designer-makers and leading commentators in the craft and design world is with artist Eleanor Lakelin and...Read more