Sue Kirk

Sue has been weaving with organically grown willow since 1998, drawn initially to the heritage traditions and sustainability of basketry. Working rurally and harvesting willow by hand, her practice follows a cyclical rhythm tied closely to the landscape. Willow cultivation supports biodiversity, and the baskets themselves are fully biodegradable—made to last for decades before eventually returning to the soil. She also sees her work as part of the long social history of willow basketry in the UK, a tradition passed down through generations and still shaped entirely by hand.

Alongside functional basketry, Sue’s contemporary work explores more sculptural forms that sit somewhere between vessel, object, and artwork. Using naturally varied willow rods almost like brushstrokes, she creates surfaces with a painterly quality while emphasizing the material’s strong linear character. Many of her pieces draw from stones, pebbles, and weather-shaped forms, with weaving techniques that suggest movement, fluidity, and erosion over time.

"That period of time when I'm actually making the sculpture, I'm not thinking about anything else. I'm just completely absorbed in what I'm doing. And that feeling is very satisfying."

Works

Sue Kirk Boulder Form 4

Sue Kirk Boulder Form 5

Sue Kirk Boulder Form 8

Sue Kirk Rock Basin 2

Sue Kirk Rock Basin 4