Oliver Chalk
Wood sculptor
Canterbury, United Kingdom
Wood, texture and the language of touch
- Oliver makes sculptural objects from sustainably sourced and fallen wood
- He is fascinated by how we understand surface through touch
- His pieces take vessel-like forms, bridging sculpture and functionality
Oliver Chalk creates large-scale, lathe-turned sculptural vessels. His conical and spherical pieces feature intricately hand-chiselled surface patterns that respond to the natural character of each piece of wood. Self-taught and an instinctive problem-solver, Oliver started working with found wood during the pandemic, after years of making large-scale textile installations for music events worldwide. He only makes one collection a year, focusing on pieces that interest him first. “I would describe them as sculptural objects imbued with the philosophical approach of expressing myself,” he says. In 2023, a Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust award allowed Oliver to extend his practice into bronze, casting sculptures derived from his wooden vessels and burying them for up to 400 days to develop a patina.
INTERVIEW
I create textured vessels from green wood celebrating the organic lines, inherent imperfections and unique gradients of the timber. Whether small-scale or monumental, the aim is always to impart purity, integrity and grace through my respect for the material before me.
I keep my creative practice very pure. I simply want to make art that interests me. It is a defining aspect of my practice, which has become a philosophical inquiry into what I am capable of and what I can learn from making. I work in silence because I view my workshop as a sort of sacred space in which I am communicating via an unconventional language.
I could just go on making forever, but I would run out of time and brain space. I work until I have given every ounce of myself to the work I make. If I do not love what I do, how can I expect anyone else to?
I run a parallel business which allows me to be a bit more considered about how I use my energy. When I am in the workshop, I can focus on making in a very pure sense. Trying to be creative all the time can be draining, so this balance gives me space to ruminate more subconsciously.
