A ‘hand woven’ sculpture shaped by the heat of the kiln to bring the viewer inside the built environment. 

Petersen 'builds' the internal structure to her work by weaving a metal fabric which she then dips into ceramic slip - the sculptural distortions created within the kiln as the metal reacts to the intense heat of firing.  

Ruth uses her work to draw attention to the fragility of our constructed world and Night Time Dreams, created for Collect 2025, highlights the inadequacies and inequalities of our current housing system. 

The black crystals and gold leaf are a specific addition to her work for Collect 2025 and reflect her constant experimentation with materials to amplify her story through these beautiful and fragile sculptures. 

A ‘hand woven’ sculpture shaped by the heat of the kiln to bring the viewer inside the built environment. 

To create these delicate sculptures, Petersen weaves a metal ‘fabric’ dipped in a ceramic slip. The sculptural distortions result from the intense heat of firing, so that the pieces are always unique, unexpected and uncomfortable - confronting us with the fragility of our constructed world through sculptures of a rare and delicate beauty. 

Created for Collect 2025, Night Time Dreams is one of an ongoing series of sculptures created by Petersen to highlight the inadequacies and inequalities of our current housing system. 

With the addition of black crystals and gold highlights to meet our curatorial theme of Black and Gold, she extends that conversation to denote the mould that creeps across the surface of inadequate housing, but adds gold to reflect the hope for change. 

A ‘hand woven’ sculpture shaped by the heat of the kiln to bring the viewer inside the built environment. 

Petersen creates these delicate structures by weaving a stainless steel or metal mesh which she then dips into ceramic slip. The sculptural distortions created by the intense heat of firing, create pieces that are at once unexpected, beguiling and uncomfortable - confronting us with the fragility of our constructed world and issues of living on the edge of safety through sculptures with a rare and delicate beauty. 

Created for Collect 2025, ‘All in Vain’ is one of an ongoing series of sculptures created by Petersen to highlight the inadequacies and inequalities of our current housing system. 

With the addition of black crystals and gold highlights to meet our curatorial theme of Black and Gold, she extends that conversation to denote the mould that creeps across the surface of inadequate housing, but adds gold to reflect the hope for change. 

This piece is no longer for sale but, if you would like to commission a similar piece, please enquire below. 

‘A Study in Black and Gold #2’ features scrambling blackberry (Rubus fructicosus) plants in black, delicately sculpted using traditional wax flower making techniques, and dried insect specimens donated by a museum curator, mounted inside American lime and glass entomology cabinet drawers.

In this piece, the blackberries which in the wild provide an important source of nectar for pollinators,
appear to be growing inside the entomology drawer alongside the preserved bee specimens, highlighting
their mutually beneficial relationship. 

Created exclusively for Collect 2025 and in response to the curatorial theme of Black and Gold, these monotone sculptures draw on the internationally renowned blackberry (Rubus) collection at the National Museum of Wales. To reflect this, the drawer is labelled by the artist as if part of a scientific collection.

Townsend's own observations of nature within the urban environment combine with her memories and experiences as a natural science conservator to create works that are scientifically accurate, yet artistically stunning - drawing us, through art, into a consideration and conversation about nature and its fragile beauty.

The piece can be be wall mounted or displayed flat and can be bought individually or as a pair. 

‘A Study in Black and Gold #1’ features scrambling blackberry (Rubus fructicosus) plants in white, delicately sculpted using traditional wax flower making techniques, and dried insect specimens donated by a museum curator, mounted inside American lime and glass entomology cabinet drawers.

In this piece, the blackberries which in the wild provide an important source of nectar for pollinators,
appear to be growing inside the entomology drawer alongside the preserved bee specimens, highlighting
their mutually beneficial relationship. 

Created exclusively for Collect 2025 and in response to the curatorial theme of Black and Gold, these monotone sculptures draw on the internationally renowned blackberry (Rubus) collection at the National Museum of Wales. To reflect this, the drawer is labelled by the artist as if part of a scientific collection.

Townsend's own observations of nature within the urban environment combine with her memories and experiences as a natural science conservator to create works that are scientifically accurate, yet artistically stunning - drawing us, through art, into a consideration and conversation about nature and its fragile beauty.

The piece can be be wall mounted or displayed flat and can be bought individually or as a pair. 

A stunning pendant created for Collect 2025. 

Shown here with Fragile Form Pendant No.1 this unique piece is crafted from 18ct gold and black ruthenium - two precious metals chosen by Mari Thomas to reflect our curatorial theme of Black and Gold. 

Hand carved, the pendant features the words written in response to our call for new work to showcase at Collect 2025 while reflecting the central motifs of words and language within the Fragile Form Collection. 

A stylish addition to the Collection,  the pendant can be bought separately or paired with the contrasting brooch in 18ct gold and black ruthenium. 

A beautiful pendant created for Collect 2025 by Mari Thomas.  

Shown here with Fragile Form Pendant No. 2, and complementing the Fragile Form brooches, this beautiful pendant is crafted from 18ct gold and black ruthenium - two precious metals chosen by Thomas to reflect our curatorial theme of Black and Gold.

The intricate hand carving reflects the significance of words and language within the Fragile Form Series - marking Mari's personal response to our First Of March showcase at Collect 2025. 

A beautiful brooch created for Collect 2025. 

Mirroring the Fragile Form Sculptures by Mari Thomas, this stunning brooch is crafted from 18ct gold, sterling silver and black ruthenium - metals chosen by Thomas to reflect our curatorial theme of Black and Gold and a stunning addition to the Fragile Form Series. 

Thomas creates interest within the piece with her unique hand carving which encapsulates the recurring motifs of words and language that lie at the heart of the Fragile Form Series.