Three fantastic highlights from the upcoming Etsy exhibition

Date
8 October 2014

Like a lot of people, I’ve been a big fan of Etsy for a while now. For a long time Etsy was the go-to place for crafts and brilliant novelty collectables: burger pincushions, spaghetti necklaces, wacky pillows. Sure, a lot of it still is – but now it holds a different type of power.

What Etsy now offers is an enormous, stratospheric amount of artists around the world who are joining forces to just make stuff. The cushion-makers, weavers, sticker-designers, bead-stringers are all verified artists, which is why the announcement of an Etsy exhibition makes total sense. Entitled OPEN, the London show features 15 of Etsy’s greatest makers and do-ers from all over the UK that have been specially selected to show their work and represent the brand’s diversity and quality.

What’s fantastic about this new venture is Etsy’s decision to focus on the artists that utilise the service. Painters, sculptors and creators of all ages have been creating beautiful pieces of work for the site for years, and Etsy now want to champion their combined talent. We had a dig around and picked our best three from the 15 artists that Etsy have chosen to be exhibitors, which you’ll find below. Fancy heading along to the exhibition? Don’t forget to buy £10 limited edition 8″ × 10″ prints available in the “Etsy art tombola.”

OPEN is at London’s 5th Base Gallery on Heneage Street from 17-19 October 2014.

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Laura Bird: Red Head Vase

Laura Bird: Red Head Vase

I love Laura Bird, I was actually a fan of her a while back, particularly her wonderfully serene and instantly-recognisable ceramics. Her work is a beautiful combination of haphazard ceramics painted in an elegant, friendly style that just makes you want to own each piece immediately. I’m thrilled Laura has been selected, as to me she’s what Etsy is all about.

www.etsy.com/laurabird

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Lou Taylor: Swimmers

Lou Taylor: Swimmers

Love this from Lou Taylor! It reminds me of Hampstead Heath ladies’ pond and the beautiful women who have breaststroked across its muddy waters. I’m not normally a big fan of paper collage as we see so much of it at It’s Nice That HQ, but Lou’s is almost like textile design – repeat patterns and slightly muted colours. Also anyone who makes an intricate piece of work dedicated entirely to Frida Kahlo is fantastic in my book.

www.etsy.com/loutaylorpapercuts

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Timothy Gent: Limited Edition

Timothy Gent: Untitled

Again, this is not something I’d normally go for, but it’s so beautiful I had to put it in. Timothy’s smudged, chaotic skies are reminiscent of grey days by the seaside, and the force at which the sun pushes its way through the clouds. There’s just something hypnotic about his work – it’s so abstract but so clear and concise, to know people like Timothy are selling their work on Etsy is a very good sign that the platform is going in the absolute right direction.

www.etsy.com/TimothyGent

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