‘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 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 ‘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. 

Barely There (2) - a ceramic sculpture created from a hand woven metal mesh dipped in ceramic slip and fired at high temperature to create the distortions seen within the sculpture. 

With an almost ethereal quality, the sculptures are both beautiful, beguiling and thought provoking.

A response to the curatorial brief of Black and Gold, Barely There (2) is part of a continuing series of work where Petersen draws our attention, through art, to the fragility of our built environment and the experience of many as they live on the edge of safety in inadequate housing. 

Drawing attention to these issues is a fundamental element of Petersen's work, but in doing so she creates pieces of intricate detail and with the meticulous attention to detail and experimentation that is typical of this emerging and gifted ceramicist. 

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 beautiful brooch created for Collect 2025. 

Mirroring the Fragile Form Sculptures by Mari Thomas, this stunning brooch is crafted from 18 ct gold and black ruthenium - two precious metals chosen by Thomas to reflect our curatorial theme of Black and Gold for Collect. 

The intricate hand carving, while creating interest within the piece, captures Thomas' response to our brief for Collect and reflects the significance of words and language within the Fragile Form Series. 

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.

Created for Collect 2025, ‘Sea of Stories’ is a wall panel which invites closer attention, filled with the mysteries and stories of the oceans - or what we choose to see within it. 

Typical of Gegenwart's work,  the piece explores the themes of rhythms and water - recurring motifs within her work - with her unique treatment of the copper giving it a particular tone, depth and interest.  

Additional complexity is added to the work by the choice of a white mount - drawing out the reflections of the lattice work to give the piece a 3 dimensional quality and provoke a tactile, as well as a visual, exploration of the work. 

For the close observer, words are etched within the panel to emphasise the language of the piece, the darkness of the work countered by the light enamel details. 

The colour of the mounting board can be changed to create different effects and interpretations of the work, but it is shown here in white as it was at Collect 2025.