Turning wood towards the light
Each year, Crafts Council presents Collect Open, a platform of ten artists who make pioneering works especially to exhibit at the fair and without gallery representation. My favourite maker from this year’s lineup is wood artist Darren Appiagyei and his collection, ‘What Grows in the Dark Comes to Light’, on view at Booth E13. These deeply personal vessels crafted by Appiagyei honour the passing of his late mother, who died from fibroids, non-cancerous growths that develop in the walls of the womb. Using a lathe, dremel and pyrography machine, Appiagyei hand-crafted each vessel to expose the unique textures present in every tree. His display at Collect 2025 is a sensory experience, intentionally inviting you to step into the darkness and see what comes to light. Take a moment out of the bustling fair to pause and reflect in this space. With this first venture in work processing his personal life, this artist’s name might be on the brink of joining the craft canon – he is already part of Crafts Council Collection.