• 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.