Under her fingers, the wicker comes to life, adopting organic, abstract, yet strangely familiar forms. Engaging with the architecture, these figures also become part of the landscape, transforming it into land art.

Laura Ellen Bacon's artistic adventure began about twenty years ago, as a reminiscence of the dens she enjoyed building in the forest as a child: I wanted to rediscover that creativity and relive that energy that made me feel alive “,” the artist confides. To reconnect with these sensations, she first used tree branches to create a space around herself, before choosing willow for its flexibility, which offers endless possibilities. Tirelessly intertwined and knotted, this fragile material strengthens and grows with each gesture, gaining in density and weight without losing any of its softness.

Created without an underlying structure, it submits to a seemingly chaotic process, which gives it form and meaning. Difficult, very physical, and demanding outdoors, this repetitive handwork generates a meditative state of mind. " explains the artist, adding that Creating is an addictive experience of the body and mind. which she transcribed in Rêverie, a monumental willow structure presented at Château-Gaillard, in Normandy, in 2023.

Laura Ellen Bacon enjoys shifting scales, moving from forms that allow themselves to be embraced to those that embrace. They can just as easily break free from a frame hanging on the wall as invade a room, climb a facade, or unfold in a garden. Depending on the size of the works, their core evokes an inaccessible walled garden or a nest woven from within, into which everyone is invited to enter. Such structures contribute to a sense of space, and the movement of their organic curves is a tribute to nature and its generative power. Like so many seeds bearing life, snowflakes, or grains of sand gathered and scattered by the wind, each willow branch participates in the birth of a work that partakes of both naturalia, the "curiosities of nature," and artificialia, those " wonders created by human hands, belonging to the realm of art or technology ».

Laura Ellen Bacon brings these two dimensions together in her creations. While most of them are striking, some blend into nature as if they were an emanation of it. Although she has also worked with other materials, such as reeds or stone, whose potential she intends to continue exploring, none will replace the willow, the king of her poetic land art.

LAURAELLENBACON.COM – @LAURAELLENBACON
THE ARTIST IS REPRESENTED BY HIGNELL GALLERY
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“CURE3”, GROUP EXHIBITION
BONHAMS 101 NEW BOND STREET, LONDON (ENGLAND)
FROM FEBRUARY 1ST TO 5TH, 2025
CURE3.CO.UK

REJUVENATION DENVER ART MUSEUM
100 W 14TH AVE. PKWY., DENVER (USA)
UNTIL MARCH 24, 2025
DENVERARTMUSEUM.ORG

ARTIST'S INSTALLATION
Yorkshire Chapel Sculpture Park
WEST BRETTON, WAKEFIELD (ENGLAND)
FROM APRIL TO SEPTEMBER 2025
YSP.ORG.UK

“GROUND/WORK 2025”, GROUP EXHIBITION
THE CLARK ART INSTITUTE – CLARK CAMPUS, 225 SOUTH STREET, WILLIAMSTOWN (USA)
FROM JUNE 28, 2025 TO OCTOBER 12, 2026
CLARKART.EDU

ARTIST'S INSTALLATIONS
BENINGBROUGH HALL – BENINGBROUGH, YORK (ENGLAND)
FROM SEPTEMBER 2, 2025 TO MARCH 2026
NATIONALTRUST.ORG.UK