This August, we’re delighted to be bringing you a series of exquisite new original artworks from contemporary artist, Elizabeth Waggett
Waggett is internationally-renowned for her intricate free-spirited depictions of animals. Her art explores important themes, highlighting the value of the earth’s most precious creatures, and reminding us of the fragility of life.
With these new works we see the artist return to one of her most enduring motifs – the lobster - a magnificent and mysterious creature that, to Waggett, represents resilience.
In today’s blog, we’re chatting to Waggett to learn more about each of these new artworks and the inspirations behind them, and discussing the important relationship between artist and collector.
On the evening of Thursday August 1st, Waggett will be recording a live episode of our Art Related Noise Podcast at Enter Gallery. RSVP here to secure your spot.
Magnificent Standards
In her Magnificent Standards trio of original works, Waggett depicts the American lobster - a motif that along with bees, has come to define her oeuvre. In previous sold out works, Bound by Love and The Curse of Being Magnificent, Waggett has depicted her lobsters with claws bound from gold. She explains:
“My bound lobsters were a statement about the way we use them for our own greed and don’t value them for their vital role in cleaning our ecosystem. As bottom feeders, lobsters clean our oceans – a job that is more important than ever.”
These new works see the lobster unleashed, with Waggett depicting them free from constraints and blown up in size to accentuate the beauty of their unusual form. Waggett explains:
“These new lobsters are liberated and lifted onto precious metal backgrounds to highlight their beauty and value to our ecosystem. Now that it is unleashed, it’s in its element. There’s a sense of grandeur around it that captures its resilient spirit. My aim was to completely and purely explore their form and shape, and to encourage people to appreciate and admire this incredible creature more.”
A Symbol of Strength
Given their plight and how they are consumed by humans, Waggett reveals that she views lobsters as a symbol of strength and survival against the odds. Both themes are particularly resonant with the artist, who just a few short years ago suffered an accident during childbirth and was informed she may never walk again.
Waggett is making a good recovery, but this long and difficult journey has made her look at the lobster through different eyes. She tells us:
“I’ve definitely become more attached to the spirit of the animal. Lobsters are such mad prehistoric creatures with this amazing exoskeleton. Recent life events have made me reflect on how that protective shell is something to be admired. This has made me think about how humans move through the world and how we protect ourselves via the personas or masks that we project to protect ourselves.”
I Am Woman, Hear Me Roar
Alongside these new lobster artworks, Waggett is also releasing another empowering limited edition work, I Am Woman, Hear Me Roar. This multi-dimensional, textured piece is crafted entirely from gold, and like its many layers, is intended as a powerful metaphor for the strength and complexity of women. Waggett reveals:
“I wanted to explore the idea that everything that is haunted is beautiful, and everything beautiful is haunted. The piece features layers, upon layers, upon layers. This is to reflect the idea that each of our layers makes us stronger and more beautiful.”
In the piece, Waggett returns to patterns similar to those seen in her 2024 Victorian series, inspired by the architecture of her home town of Manchester. This artwork was created at a time when she was unable to visit her family because of her injury. Using patterns reminiscent of her upbringing allowed Waggett to explore what home represents, and how it makes us who we are.
Beyond the striking gold of the piece, Waggett has also turned to typography to issue her empowering message. She reveals:
“These lyrics are taken from a song by Helen Reddy, which I listened to a lot when I was recovering. It made me think about the complexities of raising a daughter in our world. How I have to teach her to be strong and brave, but also feminine and soft…all the things that women are expected to be.
There is also an element of being pissed off too. I was weakened by my accident and that makes me angry. In the art world, the medical world, everywhere really. Women are still under represented. Our voices aren’t listened to.
This artwork is my love letter to women. To our strength, our spirit and our righteous anger. It’s a powerful sentiment that I hope empowers women to never let anyone take your voice. I hope it resonates with every woman that sees it.”
Patrons of the Arts
Alongside releasing her new works and recording the podcast, during her visit to the UK, Waggett will be travelling to North Devon to undertake an artist residency at Chalet Saunton.
This residency came about as its owner, Tim Fleming, is an avid collector of Waggett’s work, having been introduced to her limited edition prints and original works via Enter Gallery.
After investing in a lobster and a shark, Fleming reached out to Waggett to invite her to his artist residency with a view to her creating an artwork that reflected the beautiful surroundings. He tells us:
"Sharing the experience of Chalet Saunton with artists brings me great pleasure. Elizabeth's reaction to the light and its impact on the recent body of work is an immensely joyful experience to witness. When I designed and built Chalet Saunton, residencies were just a distant dream, that it has come true, bringing new energy, ideas and friendships is incredibly exciting”
Over five days, Waggett created a lobster (pictured above) inspired by the winter light experienced during her stay, and by the textures of the UNESCO-site sand dunes that stretch for miles on the beach beneath the residency.
“My friendship with Tim is testament to how wonderful the artist-collector relationship can be. It has grown from a couple of messages over social media to a genuine friendship. I guess it makes sense that we would have things in common given the reason that you’re drawn to art is because of the ideas, themes and concepts that you resonate with.
Art needs patronage more than ever, and it’s possible to be a true patron of the arts by thinking outside the box around ways you can support the artists you collect. You don’t always have to support artists with your money, you can also support them with your network and connections.
If you’re a collector of an artist’s work and love what they do, I urge you to reach out. You never know what could come from it.”
Explore our collection of Elizabeth Waggett art here
