Jessica Babbini-Baker: From the Graduate Art Show 2024 to a Landmark Solo Exhibition at Woolff Gallery
Following her standout participation in the Graduate Art Show 2024 at Woolff Gallery, Jessica Babbini-Baker returns to the space for a groundbreaking solo exhibition, making history as the youngest artist to hold an individual show at the gallery. Opening on Thursday, February 27th, her exhibition delves into the intricate connections between deep-time geology and fibre art, a theme that has defined her practice.
Jessica’s woven tapestries are a testament to the evolving language of loom weaving, blending her Italian heritage with the raw and ever-changing landscapes of the Cornish coast, where she lives and works. Her work, which first captured audiences during the Graduate Art Show 2024, transforms found materials—shells, rope-like forms, and a rich array of yarns—into sprawling, tactile wall hangings that mirror the movement of water and the passage of time.
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Weaving the Coastline into Art
Jessica's artistic journey began with research on the Whittard Canyon, a deep-sea trench, before transitioning to an immersive study of coastal landscapes. Now, she finds inspiration in cliff faces, viewing them as metaphors for exposed history. “Coastlines represent deep-time for me,” she explains. “I use techniques linked to my heritage, like weaving, to portray these locations.”
Living by the sea has deeply influenced her creative process. From daily ferry commutes to coastal walks, the rhythm of the tides is embedded in her work. “The movement I create with yarn mimics the movement of water,” she shares. Her tapestries oscillate between intuitive, abstract interpretations and direct pictorial representations of specific locations.
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An Intersection of Ecology, Feminism, and Tradition
Jessica’s art is as much about storytelling as it is about materiality. Many of her works incorporate oyster shells—often collected as waste from local fishmongers—drawing a parallel between the deep-sea landscapes she studies and what she finds on the shore. This ecological consciousness extends to her choice of materials; she sources her yarn through donations and charity shops, ensuring minimal environmental impact.
Her practice is also deeply personal, tied to a lineage of women who worked with fibre in various forms. “All the women in my family have been involved with fibre—whether through crochet, knitting, weaving, sewing, or basket weaving,” she reflects. “There have been debates about whether fibre art can be considered fine art, but I use tapestry weaving as a vessel for ideas and thought, acknowledging both the labour of making and its place in the fine art world.”
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A Rising Talent
Jessica’s ability to interweave geology, history, and personal heritage into her work was first recognized at the Graduate Art Show 2024, where her piece Exmouth Cliffs garnered widespread acclaim. Now, her solo exhibition at Woolff Gallery marks a new chapter, positioning her as one of the most exciting emerging artists of her generation.
Jessica’s show runs until March 15th at Woolff Gallery, offering visitors a chance to immerse themselves in her striking textile landscapes. This exhibition is not just a continuation of her journey—it’s a testament to the power of fibre art in contemporary discourse, bridging past and present, land and sea, craft and fine art.
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Visitors to the exhibition will encounter a body of work that is both tactile and thought-provoking. Jessica’s ability to merge ancient textile techniques with contemporary ecological discourse establishes her as a fresh and innovative voice in the art world.
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The exhibition runs from 27th February to 15th March at Woolff Gallery. Don't miss it!
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This article is based on an interview conducted by Woolff Gallery. Photographs courtesy of Woolff Gallery.
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Learn more about woolffgallery.co.uk/post/spotlight-jessica-babbini-baker