An Island of Light1- 30 September 2026
Tom Palmer
©All rights reserved
Tom Palmer
©All rights reserved
Tom Palmer
©All rights reserved
Tom Palmer
©All rights reserved
Tom Palmer
©All rights reserved

Tom Palmer

Mixed media sculptor

Firle, United Kingdom

In solid translucency

  • Tom is driven by a fascination for textures, translucency and the orign of materials
  • He works with a variety of materials, including stone, wood and metal
  • History and other cultures inspire his designs and his making processes

Tom Palmer's practice moves between historical techniques and contemporary forms. Working in stone, metal, carved wood, and advanced composites, his work is defined by an exacting standard of making, and a restless curiosity about materials: where they come from, and what they make possible. Alongside his independent work, Tom collaborates with private and institutional clients on projects of architectural scale, developing specific elements that bring the possibilities of historical making traditions into a contemporary context. Tom's imagination is grounded in the material world of medieval and Renaissance Europe, its scattered objects, ruined architecture, and uncompromising material culture. "I like to draw on this history not as nostalgia but as a living source of inspiration," he says.

Tom Palmer is an expert artisan: he began his career in 2013.

INTERVIEW

I started making things in the workshop of the farm I grew up on, there were always materials and tools available so I started carving and constructing things. I began by carving offcuts of oak fencing posts, then casting vessels in lead that I scavenged from firewood stores and scrap yards.

My work is driven by twin fascinations of texture and translucency: exploring these two almost opposing qualities through hand carving and advance casting, I push the possibilities of materials and techniques to their limit.

Whilst the materials I use and the clients I work for are widespread – they come from all over the world – my work would not be possible without the really strong network of suppliers and specialists I have built up locally, they support me in being able to realise the work.

I would say that I am a sculptor who works in the space between the fine and decorative arts, across a wide range of disciplines, creating both pure sculpture and sculptural objects that might have some practical application, such as sculptural furniture or vessels.

Tom Palmer

Mixed media sculptor

Firle, United Kingdom

ADDRESS

The Farrowing Barn, Gibraltar Farm, BN8 6NB, Firle, United Kingdom

View on Maps

AVAILABILITY

By appointment only

PHONE

+44 7738710922

LANGUAGES

English

HOMO FABER FINDS

Homo Faber Finds is a new service aiming to inspire admirers of craft to connect and collaborate with exceptional artisans.
We invite you to submit an enquiry here.

Torna all'E-catalogue