“Persian Kangaroo.” All images © Debbie Lawson, shared with permission
A new menagerie of polar bears, stags, and kangaroos resemble typical wildlife except for the fact that they’re literally swept under the carpet, their features hidden from view. These towering sculptural forms are by artist Debbie Lawson (previously), who crafts animals that are cloaked in sweeping Persian rugs. Rather than being camouflaged by a forest, jungle, or snow-covered Arctic, Lawson’s creatures boldly protrude from the fabric and loom over the viewer.
In her process, Lawson sculpts the animals from a combination of chicken wire and masking tape. She then layers luscious carpets across them, creating the illusion that these animals are about to jump, walk, and prance out of the fabric. This method is derived from what Lawson describes as her ability to spot hidden images in floors, textured walls, and various patterns, an interest that’s mirrored in her perspective-altering sculptures that appear to leap out from the gallery’s walls.
Peek inside Lawson’s studio and find a larger selection of her carpeted creatures on her site and Instagram.
Lawson with “Polar Bear” in-progress
“Bear Cartouche”
Detail of “Persian Kangaroo”
Detail of “Polar Bear” in-progress
Left: “Blue Stag.” Right: “Red Boar”
“Bear Cartouche”
Detail of “Red Boar”