Valérie Wartelle is a contemporary fibre artist whose main fascination lies within the manipulation of fibres and textiles as an expressive art form.
Taking the rural environment as her inspiration, she explores long-term interests of texture, colour, layering and process to create contemplative and ethereal wall hung artworks.
Valérie’s primary practice is wet felting; a traditional craft technique using wool tops, hot water, soapsuds and friction to interlock the fibres together.
The compositions are built in layers in which cloth is embedded, prints disguised, and threads unravelled as a painter with her brush.
The analogy with painting is significant throughout, making the viewing inquisitive, and challenging people’s perception.
Brought up in France and French Polynesia, Valérie originally came to the UK to study textile design. Drawing on this expertise and inspired by her own artwork, it naturally followed for her to develop a collection of luxury stoles, digitally printed on superfine wool & cashmere blend.
In 2015, Valérie was awarded the Embroidery Magazine’s Best Emerging Textile Artist at SIT Select Showcase, as well as Best Picture in Show at the Great North Art Show.
Valérie works and lives in Halifax, West Yorkshire, and we are delighted to showcase her collection for our Textile Exhibition, FIBRE.
Valerie can be found on Instagram so head over there and follow her but call in to see her incredible work soon … the exhibition finishes later this month! x
