Artist Statement
I work with straw marquetry, a meticulous art form that transforms rye straw into luminous, reflective surfaces. Through this medium, I explore how light interacts with material: how it shifts, reveals, and animates form.
Light as Material
Straw's natural sheen plays with light in subtle, ever-changing ways. Each piece plays with reflection and rhythm, where geometry or stylized forms emerge through light itself.
The Discipline of Making
I work exclusively with rye straw grown in Burgundy, France, prized for its exceptional quality and luminous sheen.
Working with straw requires patience, precision, and a deep understanding of the material’s natural properties. Each piece begins with the careful selection and preparation of individual straws, which are split to be flattened, then cut and positioned one by one to build the composition.
This slow, exacting process requires mastery and time, allowing the material’s inherent qualities to fully reveal themselves.
Craftsmanship and Expression
My practice explores straw marquetry as a contemporary artistic medium. Whether abstract or inspired by nature, each composition seeks a balance between precision and vibration, order and emotion.
The Living Surface
Straw marquetry is never static; the surface transforms with changing light, revealing subtle patterns and depths. Its radiance cannot be fully captured in photographs. It must be seen in person, where light and texture come alive before the viewer’s eyes.
Through my work, I hope to share the quiet wonder I find in this centuries-old medium, inviting viewers to discover the extraordinary beauty that emerges when simple materials are transformed through patience, skill, and artistic vision.
— Cecile Ancelin, 2024