Arts Design

A NEW FLIGHT OF FEATHER SCULPTURES

Perhaps there is no more beautiful place for a feather to be than on a bird, but these artists and designers have elevated the feather in their own extraordinary ways. From weighty feather-coated organic forms to ethereal clouds of floating feathers, to feather and light plays, we are enchanted by these beautiful feathered sculptures.

KATE MCCGWIRE

British sculptor Kate MccGwire creates beautiful works made of feathers. The pieces are reminiscent of both familiar and otherworldly creatures.

Layers of feathers cloak organic forms, in curving shapes, many encased in glass, as if they were giant specimens.

MccGwire mainly works with pigeon and mallard duck feathers, some of which she collects herself, and some sent by various farmers and bird enthusiasts.

You can see MccGwire’s Birds of Paradise exhibition at the Modern Museum in Antwerp now through August 24, 2014. MccGwire’s solo Lure exhibition can be seen at the Beaney, House of Art & Knowledg in Canterbury, UK.

ISA BARBIER

French artist Isa Barbier takes an entirely different approach to her feather sculptures. Barbier celebrates the light, floaty qualities of feathers by suspending them from clear filaments to create enormous, room-size installations.

The pieces look as if a great wind cast thousands of feathers aloft in a sort of cloud in abstract geometric shapes. Beautiful things happen as you move around the sculpture and your perspective changes, bringing new thoughts as the feathers seem to appear and dis appear from view.

RACHEL HARRISON

Artist Rachel Harrison plays with feather shapes and light.

From the artist’s statement:

“I am investigating cloth through porcelain, crossing boundaries between sculpture and textiles. Using the feather as a motif I am exploring the juxtapositions of inherent material qualities. A feather made from porcelain will compromise the softness and lightness of a natural feather. I am interested in blurring lines between disciplines and exploring the different contexts to how textiles can be displayed and perceived by its audience, wearer or viewer.”