Dancing Through Waves & Water (2023). Hand-woven silk and wool tapestry
Sussy Cazalet (b.1983) is a British artist based between Norfolk and London, whose textile works are characterised by bold patterns layered in blocks of warm colour, a departure from more traditional designs and muted palettes typically associated with tapestry.
An early born obsession with medieval tapestries and more recently Alexander Calder’s wall hangings lead Cazalet on a path through India and Africa in search of master weavers, establishing relationships with local female-based collectives who have time and again translated and manifested her endless watercolour studies into woven art pieces. Over the past 4 years, Cazalet has worked closely with her weavers, developing a unique set of dyes and techniques individual to her bold yet controlled style.
Cazalet utilises traditional techniques, such as flat loom weaving and organic dyeing, selecting natural fibres and hand weaving to bring her tapestries into being. Her works not only pay homage to the rich history of tapestry but also point towards its exciting potential. The distinctive colour scheme of her tapestries, the rich array of hot terracottas and burnt siennas express Cazalet’s affinity with the heat of the sun and the associated madness, yet tempered with linear tightness and geometry, "an attempt to calm the chaos.”
Cazalet studied interior architecture at Parsons NYC, worked with art directors in fashion & theatre.