In my work I use the craft of basketry as a vessel for artistic expression through intuitive making, material and colour choices. My interest in basketry stemmed from a found photograph of my nana weaving a basket, just as I began studying weave at the Royal College of Art. I wanted to explore my heritage in self taught crafts and explore the fascinating, ancient craft which I find so intuitive in nature.

Self expression and playfulness through my material and colour choices is a core element to my work. Drawing attention to the beauty in the mundane and everyday materials in order to give them meaning through another purpose, my work is predominantly made from found materials including discarded rope, plastic bags, string, fabric scraps and marram grass. Colour is also very important in my creative identity as I am fascinated by the alchemy of putting colours together. 

I am also interested in the role craft could play in the gallery. There seems to be such a connection with craft and womanhood as they are stereotypically connected to this idea of domesticity and it seems then somehow if a woman is making basketry it is expected. I want to challenge these gendered and outdated stereotypes, and the hierarchy of materials and elitism of the art world by placing my work in the gallery context where it can be appreciated as art. 

Kaye graduated Textiles MA at the Royal College of Art and is now based in Deptford at the Cockpit Arts Studios as an awardee of the Basketmakers’ Award, supported by the Worshipful Company of Basketmakers.