Eleanor Lakelin works with the ‘life-force’ of trees sustainably felled in the UK. For Eleanor, each tree embodies a distinct story of growth and struggle that underwrites its passage from matter to material in her studio. Carved on and off the lathe, the sure-footed geometrics of her pieces are complicated by the expressionistic chaos of burr, or given new time signatures in the rhythms of carved patterns and textures. While embedded in the ecology of trees, her core practice looks to a history of objects, revolving around the unending resonance of the vessel form. From agricultural innovations to ritual ceremonies, vessels have distributed a life-force of their own: seeds, water, wine, ashes and tone. Echoing these elemental physics of void and containment, Eleanor substantiates the spirit of these traditions in the living medium and memory of wood.

Eleanor’s work is exhibited internationally and featured in significant private and public collections, including the Museum of Arts and Design New York, USA; Victoria & Albert Museum, UK; Museum of London, UK; Mint Museum of Craft and Design, USA; the National Museum in Oslo, Norway and The Loewe Foundation. Most recently in 2024, her work was acquired by the Museum of Decorative Arts, Norway and the University for the Creative Arts, UK. Eleanor has received major commissions, such as the 2020 Reading Museum project supported by the CAS Rapid Response Fund and Frieze London. She has also been recognised with numerous accolades, including the 2018 QEST Scholarship, the 2017 British Wood Awards, Bespoke Category, and finalist status in the 2022 Loewe Craft Prize.

Eleanor lives and works in London and is represented by Sarah Myerscough Gallery.

Eleanor Lakelin Process Film >

Eleanor Elakelin CV 2025 PDF >

Eleanor Lakelin Selected Press 2024 PDF >