Collection: Annie Chittenden

Annie Chittenden’s award winning work has been shown nationally and is in public, private and corporate collections. A former tapestry weaver, she now brings a contemporary twist to the ancient art of hand-coiled basketry. Each piece is created with meticulous attention to structural integrity, functional design and durable finish.

As a self-taught artist working in Westbrook, CT, she says, “Working with textiles has been a passion of mine since childhood. I’ve always loved the feel of thread, fabric and natural fibers in my hands. As a child, I spent countless hours weaving birch bark, milkweed silk and kitchen string into animal nests.”

Her recent work brings more colorful materials together into pieces that serve as both decorative and functional works of art. “Like many artists, I find inspiration in my natural surroundings. Envisioning the layers I’m building as near and/or far horizons weds my passion for materials and process with inner reflections on the outdoor world. I may not recognize a particular connection until after a piece is finished, when I may unexpectedly re-experience a particular sunrise, or celestial event in the night sky.”

When asked if she designs her pieces before making them, she says, “I like to allow each piece evolve and develop its own character as it comes together. By the time it’s finished and I can step back, it seems that while the work is still part of me, it has taken on a life of its own.”