Stephanie Metz uses special barbed needles and wool to create felted creatures and studies of humans. While there has been quite a buzz recently about her teddy bear fetus and skull sculptures, I am moved by the lovely female figures that she captures in a variety of poses.
Shameless, 17 1/2″H x 9″W x 5″D
For me the appeal of wool lies both in pushing its physical possibilities as a sculpting medium and in its suitability for the subject matter that interests me. Felted wool is organic, soft, and pliable, yet strong and hardy—perfect for realistic studies of humans and animals that exemplify those qualities.
Private Sphere, 11″H x 14″W x 3″ D
She ends her artist statement with a comment that reminds me the same can be said of polymer clay:
Using an uncommon medium draws attention to the qualities of that medium, and feeds into the subjects I choose, the process for realizing the forms, and the messages embodied in the work.
Crouching Figure, 8 1/2″ H x 5 ½”W x 9 1/2″D
via notcot, craftzine, neatorama
amazing. just flat out amazing.
I don’t remember posing for “shameless”….
Wow! I recently played around with needle felting, and she is taking it to places unimagined. Fantastic.
Lee Ann took my comment!!
I really admire the sculpture. Needle felting is a great sculpture medium. It is much like clay in that it can be easily changed. There is no end to the creative possibilies
These are stunning. I create unusual (read “not cutesy”) needle felted sculptures as well and Stephanie’s work is inspirational.
[...] 2008 we looked at Stephanie Metz’s beautiful needle felted figurative sculptures. A recent visit to her website alerted me to Metz’s most current body of work – an [...]
Unbelievable I would love to hold one – it is very inspiring interesting
We own three of Stephanie’s felted pieces, Boxster,
Crow
and a bat that was created with drawing’ using wool fiber poked through paper. She is an incredibly gifted artist and these works are a delight to look at and (occasionally) touch.
Truly Beautiful works of art !!!!