Inspiration
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Claire’s work is inspired by the rich textures, colours and sculpted shapes of natural forms: fragments of sea-worn shells, the rock formations of a battered coastline, a curl of split bark. She also draws inspiration directly from the characteristics of the medium, and relishes the natural qualities of metal.
The fusion of reclaimed and precious metals in Claire’s pieces is highly unusual and gives a mysterious and exotic character to the work. Raw materials often include discarded metal containers, plucked from obscurity and transformed. Claire works each piece by hand, with skillful use of a flame, raising, chasing and gilding techniques and often pushes the metal to the limit of workability to achieve the organic qualities she seeks. Each piece is unique.
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Background
After a 14 year career as a community artist Claire studyed at Hereford College of Art, graduating in 2005 with a BAHons in Contemporary Applied Art. Claire received The New Exhibitors Award at Hereford Contemporary Craft Fair 2005 and a Honorary Mention at the Craft Council Chelsea Crafts Fair 2005. Claire works from her studio in rural Herefordshire and is represented by galleries throughout the UK, in Ireland, Portugal, Canada and the USA.
Retail prices £200 - £2500
" Claire Malet's work struck me as being outstanding. She uses humble munane materials and transfers it to a sumptuous powerful object. With a green future in mind, preservation of materials, recycling and the price increase of precious metal, this might be the new category to explode onto the craft scene" Hana Smouha, member of the Craft Council Selection panel for Origin: The London Craft Fair.
Claire is a member of ACID – Anti Copying in Design.
