Animals and Ornament Emerge from Felted Wool in Holly Guertin’s Textiles

Alternating between felted wool, crochet, and embroidery, Holly Guertin summons moments of peace and reflection through nature. Lifelike lambs serenely nod off or stand in front of ornate backgrounds, while vignettes of foliage and flourishes incorporate colorful fiber. In her practice, the artist seeks connections between patterns and adornments and flora and fauna. “The brilliant color work in a hummingbird’s feathers, the spots on a pufferfish, even the stripes in a blade of grass are all ordinary moments of spectacular ornament,” she says.

Some of these pieces will be on view in the artist’s solo exhibition Hand in Hand at Waterworks Visual Arts Center in Salisbury, North Carolina, which runs from July 6 to October 10. See more on the artist’s Instagram.

a wool felted textile artwork featuring a sleeping lamb — “Reception”

a wool felted textile artwork with floral details and flourishes — “Delight”

a detail of a wool felted textile artwork with floral details and flourishes — Detail of “Delight”

a wool felted textile artwork with patterns of foliage — “What Your Hand Has Wrought”

a hand touches the face of a felted lamb sculpture — “His Face”

a wool felted textile artwork with a floral-like geometric pattern — “Encore”

a detail of a wool felted lamb in relief against a decorative blue background — Detail of “Lamb of God”

a detail of a wool felted textile artwork featuring a sleeping lamb — Detail of “Reception”

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