Scabal’s Studio welcomes British artist Lawrence Calver

Scabal’s Studio welcomes British artist Lawrence Calver for the second iteration of its Artist in Residence programme, a thoughtful collaboration curated by Pascale van Zuylen that deepens the house’s ongoing conversation with contemporary art and creative practice.

Calver’s practice centres on the sculptural and expressive potential of textiles themselves. Known for large scale works that exploit stitching, layering and unexpected juxtaposition, his approach transforms humble materials into compositions of considerable presence and visual weight. During his residency at Scabal’s Savile Row studio, he has turned his attention to the house’s own fabric samples, those accumulated swatches that form the visual and tactile foundation of bespoke tailoring. Through patient hand stitching, he has drawn these familiar materials together into expansive new forms, allowing colour, texture and the subtle variations in weave to acquire an entirely different resonance.

What emerges from this dialogue between artist and cloth house is a body of work that honours both the craft traditions embedded in each swatch and the creative vision that sees beyond their original purpose. The resulting compositions speak to the materials’ inherent qualities while revealing unexpected connections between tone, structure and form. It is an exchange characteristic of Scabal’s commitment to commissioning artists who engage seriously with craft, materiality and the possibilities that emerge when disciplines meet.

Imagery courtesy of Scabal (@scabal).