Fallen leaves mark the close of a season, but for Susanna Bauer they’re the start of something else. The Cornwall-based artist takes magnolia, ginkgo, oak, and other deciduous leaves and turns them into small, precise textile works. Each leaf has already spent months photosynthesizing and sustaining its tree. Once it drops, Bauer intervenes with cotton thread, stitching fragile surfaces into new forms.
She works with circular cutouts, sharp edges, and multi-leaf assemblies, using lacework to bridge gaps or reinforce seams. The result is a controlled tension between strength and delicacy. Her pieces highlight how vulnerable forest ecosystems are, yet how much resilience is hidden in their structures.
Bauer’s latest works are on view in “Rock Paper Scissors” at CLOSE Gallery in Hatch Beauchamp, Somerset. The group show brings together twelve artists, including Kate MccGwire and Hew Locke. The exhibition runs through January 17. More of Bauer’s work appears on her website and Instagram.
