Image 1 of 3
Image 2 of 3
Image 3 of 3
Zoë Chapman's portraits stop you in your tracks. What appears at first glance to be a detailed pen and ink drawing reveals itself, on closer inspection, to be something far more extraordinary — each piece constructed entirely from fine enamelled copper wire and hundreds of tiny nails, meticulously placed by hand onto board.
Drawing on the traditional art form of Filografi, Zoë has developed her own distinctive technique to bring iconic subjects to life — among them David Bowie, John Lennon and Nelson Mandela. The process is painstaking; each portrait requires hundreds of metres of wire, threaded and layered with extraordinary precision to build up tone, depth and expression.
The result is a body of work that surprises at every scale. Up close, the intricacy is breathtaking. Stepped back, the likeness is undeniable. A subtle three-dimensional quality gives each piece a presence that photographs rarely do justice to.
Commissions are welcomed. Please get in touch to discuss your subject, size and colour preferences.
Created from 0.35mm black enamelled copper wire attached to thousands of small nails on acrylic painted board.
All portraits are created from archival materials.
All portraits can be created in any size and colour.
An original artwork
Presented ready to hang on your wall
Free Delivery straight to your home
