Sculptural Basketry by Nolan Wright
“Each piece is the result of an organic, exploratory process. No two are the same — I couldn’t recreate one if I tried.”
Gallery
About Me
& My Work
I use traditional basketry techniques, primarily coiling and knotting, to make sculptural forms, typically using pine needles, waxed linen thread, other cords, and sometimes with copper wire. Most pieces are finished with a baked-in beeswax and paraffin coating to protect the work. The result is a firm shape, with a texture and feel like petrified wood.
It is a slow process. I begin by gathering southern longleaf pine needles fresh from young trees near my home in Columbia, South Carolina while they are still green. Then I wash and dry them indoors for several weeks, before adding color if I am going to do so, using fabric dye and acrylic paint. Finally, I begin actual construction. Knotting and coiling are both time consuming techniques, but there is a meditative quality to the doing of it that appeals to me. The repetition, care, skill, and time required calms and is important to me, resulting in a sort of rhythm. Each piece both creates and grows from that rhythm, organically, with nothing more than a general idea of shape and a color palate at the start.
I don’t have an art degree but benefited from some wonderful fiber art classes and workshops, and was lucky enough to grow up in a creative household. My mother was an artist and gallery owner who championed indigenous folk art and contemporary crafts in Tucson, Arizona where we lived. My father was a geologist and educator, but also created many of the displays in the gallery and did all of the color mixing and silk screening for my mother’s designs. I have been surrounded by and appreciated beauty, natural and human made, all my life as a result.
Pieces of my work have been selected for a number of juried exhibitions, including Art Evolved: Intertwined, which is traveling to multiple venues from 2023-2026, co-sponsored by Studio Art Quilts Associates (SAQA), and the National Basketry Organization (NBO). My CV with a list of exhibitions is available from the main menu.
Inspiration
The biggest inspiration for my work is the juxtaposition of shapes, textures, and colors that catch my eye in the world around me. Trees, twisted by the wind or that have interesting bark or exposed roots, tide pools, tree fungi, seed pods, mountain canyons, rock formations, and such. Dense, undulating, weathered shapes and surfaces. Echoes of the landscape I grew up with in Arizona, and time spent in other rugged areas. Working slowly, knot by knot, stitch by stitch, I hope to create objects that similarly invoke a feeling of something primal, powerful, alive, even disruptive — not necessarily beautiful or elegant.
Additional Images - Details
(click image to enlarge)
“Kintsugi Mindset”
Fragment Series
- 2024
13” (t) x 22” (w) x 16” (d)
Sections of dyed and painted pine needles, coiled with waxed linen and Brazilian poly cord, joined together with knotting to create a single form.
“Picking Up the Pieces”
Fragment Series
- 2024
10” (t) x 18” (w) x 12” (d)
Sections of dyed and painted pine needles, coiled with waxed linen and Brazilian poly cord, joined together with knotting to create a single form.
“Slot Canyon”
- 2024
9” (t) x 22” (w) x 9” (d)
Dyed and painted pine needles, coiled with waxed linen, and coated copper wire.
Inside niche on
left side above
“A Most Curious Artifact”
Fragment Series
- 2024
20” (t) x 44” (w) x 16” (d)
Dyed and painted pine needles, waxed
linen, Brazilian poly cord, copper wire. Coiling and knotting.
“Ancient Memories”
- 2024
32” (t) x 12” (w) x 3” (d)
Dyed and painted pine needles, waxed linen, waxed poly cord, copper wire,
and abalone shell. Coiling and knotting.
“A Beautiful Conundrum”
- 2024
5” (t) x 22” (w) x 11” (d)
Dyed and painted pine needles, waxed linen, c-lon cord, and copper wire. Coiling, knotting, and wrapping.
“Splitting Apart at the
Seams (Rebirth)” - 2023
29” (t) x 26” (w) x 23” (d)
Dyed and painted pine needles, waxed linen, copper wire, trade beads. Coiled, knotted, and assembled.
“Unexpected Growth”
- 2023
15” (t) x 14” (w) x 13” (d)
Dyed and painted pine needles, coiled with waxed linen and copper wire, with knotted “growths” using waxed linen and poly cord.
“Into the Depths”
- 2022
10” (t) x 20” (w) x 8” (d)
Dyed and painted southern longleaf pine needles, coiled with waxed linen and copper wire.
“Defying Expectations” |
- 2022
22” (t) x 9” (w) x 8” (d)
Dyed and painted pine needles, coiled with waxed linen.
“Resilient, Standing
Proud” - 2022
12” (t) x 11” (w) x 11” (d)
Dyed and painted pine needles, coiled with waxed linen and Brazilian poly cord.
“Shipwreck”
- 2020
7” (t) x 20” (w) x 14” (d)
Dyed and painted pine needles, coiled with waxed linen and Brazilian poly cord. Knotted “growths” on the surface, top and bottom, using waxed linen and Brazilian poly cord.
“Still Balancing”
- 2021
6” (t) x 15” (w) x 14” (d)
Dyed and painted southern longleaf pine needles, coiled with waxed linen and Brazilian poly cord. Knotted center and inserts, using waxed linen and Brazilian poly cord.
“Skirting the Issue”
- 2020
8” (t) x 12” (w) x 12” (d)
Dyed and painted southern longleaf pine needles, coiled with waxed linen, Brazilian poly cord, and coated copper wire. Knotted “skirt” created in place, using waxed linen and nylon cord.
“Color Study”|
- 2019
4” (t) x 12.5” (w) x 9” (d)
Dyed and painted southern longleaf pine needles, coiled with waxed linen.
“Canyon Country”
6.5” (t) x 22” (w) x 19” (d)
Undyed southern longleaf pine needles, coiled with waxed linen. Additional forms knotted in place, integrated into the twists and turns of the canyon, using waxed linen and other cords. Baked-in beeswax and paraffin finish.
“Breaking Containment”
- 2021
10” (t) x 10” (w) x 10” (d)
Dyed pine needles, coiled with waxed linen. Knotted center, back, and embellishments created using waxed linen, Brazilian poly cord, and c-lon cord.
“Counterpoint”
- 2019
4.5” (t) x 16” (w) x 16” (d)
Dyed pine needles, coiled with waxed linen. Additional biomorphic shapes “sketched” on and coiled in place using pine needles and waxed linen. B
“Becalmed”
- 2018
5” (t) x 12” (w) x 12” (d)
Undyed southern longleaf pine needles, coiled with waxed linen. Baked-in beeswax and paraffin finish.
“Tide Pool”
- 2010
2.5” (t) x 6” (w) x 6” (d)
Knotted form with desiccated coral center, using waxed linen, fine wool, other yarns, and cotton embroidery thread. This piece does not have a baked-in finish.
“Barnacles”
- 2019
5” (t) x 13” (w) x 9” (d)
Undyed pine needles, coiled with waxed linen. Knotted “growths” on the surface, using waxed linen.
“Vortex”
_ 2018
4” (t) x 12” (w) x 12” (d)
Artist dyed southern longleaf pine needles, coiled with waxed linen.
Historical Examples
Untitled
- 1977
Approx. 4’ x 5’
As displayed at Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts, summer 1978.
Knotted form. Dyed jute, handspun wool, suede, and brass wire.
Untitled
- 1978
Approx. 30” (t) x 30” (w) x 10” (d)
As displayed at Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts, summer 1978.
Knotted form. Dyed jute and mixed yarns over date palm fluorescence.
CV
Art Education
Fiber art classes with Gayle Wimmer, University of Arizona (1978-79). Fiber Studio Assistant, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, summer 1978. Workshops with Nadine Spier (2017), Clay Barnette (2018), Tressa Sularz (2019), Ferne Jacobs (2021), and Ann Coddington (2023).
Other Education
M.L.I.S. (Masters Library Information Systems, 2008); J.D. (1995); M.A. (Psychology, 1988); B.A. (Urban Studies, 1983).
Selected Exhibitions
2026
Art Evolved: Intertwined, January 27 - April 26, 2026, Lauren Rogers Museum of Art, Laurel ME. A national juried traveling exhibition, co-sponsored by Studio Art Quilts Associates (SAQA), and the National Basketry Organization (NBO).
2025
Fiberart International 2025, June20 - August 30, 2025, Contemporary Craft & Brew House Arts, Pittsburgh PA. International juried exhibition.
ArtFields 2025, April 25 - May 3, 2025, Lake City SC. Regional juried exhibition.
Art Evolved: Intertwined, March 1 - August 31, 2025, Fuller Craft Museum, Brockton MA. A national juried traveling exhibition, co-sponsored by Studio Art Quilts Associates (SAQA), and the National Basketry Organization (NBO).
2024
South Carolina State Fair Fine Arts Exhibition, October 9 - 20, 2024, Columbia SC, Best of Division, 3D, Professional.
2024 Annual Juried Exhibition, September 10 - October 26, 2024, Artists/Collective, Spartanburg SC. Regional juried exhibition.
42nd Annual Juried Competition - A Sense of Place, September 6 - October 11, 2024, Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art, Augusta GA. Regional juried exhibition.
Fantastic Fibers 2024, March 26 – May 9, 2024, Yeiser Art Center, Paducha KY. International juried exhibition.
Art Evolved: Intertwined, November 29, 2023 - March 3, 2024, Pacific Northwest Quilt & Fiber Art Museum, La Conner WA. A national juried traveling exhibition, co-sponsored by Studio Art Quilts Associates (SAQA), and the National Basketry Organization (NBO).
2023
Art Evolved: Intertwined, June 30 - October 21, 2023, Yellowstone Art Museum, Billings MT. A national juried traveling exhibition, co-sponsored by Studio Art Quilts Associates (SAQA), and the National Basketry Organization (NBO).
Weave, Coil, Twine, Plait, Knot: Traditional and Contemporary Basketry, February 10 - March 24, 2003, Edwardsville Art Center, Edwardsville IL. Invitational group exhibition and panelist.
2022
Selected Works, Yarn / Rope / String 2021 and 2022, December 8, 2022 - March 12, 2023, New Bedford Art Museum, New Bedford MA, in partnership with the Fiber Art Network. National juried exhibition.
2021
Small Expressions 2021, national juried traveling exhibition, sponsored by the Handweavers Guild of America. June 30 - August 22, 2021, Pacific Northwest Quilt & Fiber Arts Museum, La Conner WA. September 1-30, 2021, HeART Gallery, Toledo OH. October 15 - December 16, 2021, Appalachian Center for Craft, Smithville TN. January 28 - April 7, 2022, Gallery at 48 Natoma, Folsom CA. May 2 - June 9, 2022, Thousand Islands Arts Center/Handweaving Museum, Clayton NY.
Fantastic Fibers 2021, April 1 - May 29, 2001, Yeiser Art Center, Paducha KY. International juried exhibition.
Yarn / Rope / String 2021, national juried exhibition in print, featured in Fiber Art Now, Vol. 10, Issue 4, Fall/Winter 2021, sponsored by the Fiber Art Network.
Remnants, January 16-February 17, 2021, Art Saint Louis, St. Louis MO. Regional juried exhibition.
2020
Members In Print 2, National Basketry Organization members juried exhibition in print, Basketry+, Issue 79, Summer 2000.
Dogwood to Kudzu, July 24 – 27, 2020, first prize, national juried exhibition, presented in conjunction with the Handweavers Guild of America annual conference, Knoxville TN. Also featured in Shuttle, Spindle & Dyepot, Vol. LII, No. 1, Issue 205, Spring 2021.
Fantastic Fibers 2020, April 10 - May 30, 2020, Yeiser Art Center, Paducha KY. International juried exhibition.
Excellence in Fiber V, December 12, 2019 - March 15, 2020, Muskegon Museum of Art, Muskegon MI, in partnership with the Fiber Art Network, preceded by an exhibition in print in Fiber Art Now, Vol. 9, Issue 4, Fall 2020. National juried exhibition.
46th Mid-States Craft Exhibition, December 8, 2019 - March 8, 2020, Evansville Museum, Evansville IN. Regional juried exhibition.
2019
28th Cedarhurst Biennial, July 28 - October 6, 2019, Cedarhurst Center for the Arts, Mt. Vernon IL. Regional juried exhibition.
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My sister taught me some macrame knots when we were teenagers, and I have benefitted from coiling workshops with Clay Burnette, Ferne Jacobs, and Nadine Spier. Beyond that, it has come down to years of trial and error, and paying attention to what the materials and the rhythms of the moment are trying to teach me.
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I spend anywhere from a couple of days to several weeks or more coiling and knotting a single piece, not including the time gathering and preparing the materials.
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That’s easy. Just send me your email address and I will be sure to let you know (see “Stay Current” form below).
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I will never share your contact information with anyone else without your express authorization to do so.
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I typically ship by UPS, and always send a tracking number so you know when to expect receipt. Shipping in the continental United States and insurance is included in the purchase price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Stay Current
Provide your email address and I will happily let you know when I post pictures of a new piece or am participating in an exhibition.
Contact
Don’t be shy. If you have questions about a piece you see here or my work generally, would like to discuss a possible commission or exhibition, or would like to just say hello, please use this form to do so.