Untitled 1 (Oak)

2024
Oak
43.5 x 35 cm | 17.1 x 13 in.

Marc Ricourt has exhibited extensively in the UK and internationally. His work is held in significant private and public collections, including the Musée des Pays de L'Ain, France; the Wood Turning Center, UK; The Center for Art in Wood, USA; and the ASU Art Museum, USA. He was shortlisted for the Loewe Craft Prize in 2020.

Marc draws inspiration from the ancient utilitarian object of the vessel. He comments, ‘I’ve based my work around a simple but very essential object, as it was the first tool created and used by mankind... My work on vessels has allowed me to develop a relationship between ancient or geographically remote cultures and civilizations and modern creations. The most important facet of my work is the research and exploration of new forms, colours, textures, and finishes.’ Marc sources wood from his local landscape in Dijon, France, turning on a traditional lathe before intricately carving and treating surfaces through bleaching, dyeing, or applying ferrous oxide. His organic forms often recall seed pods or the undulating edges of leaves, delicately carved into linear fins. Historically, Marc worked with green wood, following the grain to achieve the perfect form. More recently, he has been experimenting with dried-out firewood taken from the heart of the tree, creating rugged surfaces that heighten the sculptural quality of his vessels.