Alex O’Connor

Alex O'Connor

Alex O’Connor came to silversmithing from a background in Fine Art and Sculpture. 

I first met Alex at The London Design Fair and was captivated by the sublime forms and simple elegance of her work.  This is an artist that creates such beautiful purity in her designs.  Alex gives silver a delicacy and surface texture that makes you long to touch it.  

Living and working in Cornwall, her recent collection is inspired by her local landscape. She creates her pieces to represent the sensations that she feels.  Silverware and wearable sculptures are suffused with composure, poise and serenity.  

More details of Alex’s work and where you can see her exhibiting this year can be found on her website www.alexoconnorsilver.co.uk .  

Alex O'Connor - Elliptic Series

Ellipse Series  |  Photography by Paul Mounsey

Alex O'Connor - Elliptic Series

Ellipse Series  |  Photography by Paul Mounsey

Alex O'Connor - Elliptic Series

Ellipse Series  |  Photography by Paul Mounsey

The Ellipse Series

The Ellipse series is inspired by the unique geological formations and elongated shadows of a tiny cove in west Cornwall.  Porth Nanven is a protected site of scientific interest.  Hundreds of ovoid granite boulders cover the beach and foreshore.  Hanging half submerged in the cliff.  From palm-sized, to over a metre, each of these granite forms was smoothed by the sea. Over 120,000 years of relentless Atlantic currents have continued to shift and redistribute them, with every high tide.

Alex O'Connor -Veer Series

Veer Series  |  Photography by Paul Mounsey

Alex O'Connor -Veer Series

Veer Series  |  Photography by Paul Mounsey

Alex O'Connor -Veer Series

Veer Series  |  Photography by Paul Mounsey

Veer Series

The Veer series is inspired by a season of walking in wintertime through the raw, rural landscapes of Cornwall and Wales.  Created by scoring, folding and forming sheet silver.  This elegant collection reflects the artist’s physical encounter with slanted rain, driving wind, and the untameable outdoors.

Alex O'Connon Zawn Series

Zawn Series  |  Photography by Paul Mounsey

Alex O'Connor - Queen of Night

Queen of Night  |  Photography by Paul Mounsey

Alex O'Connor - Fall Vessles

Fall Vessels  |  Photography by Paul Mounsey

Fall Vessels

Hand-raised in copper, the design of each Fall piece is entirely process led, creating pieces simply in the spirit of making.  The carefully controlled nature of hand-raising is balanced in these works.  A swift and deliberately accidental approach to surface detailing.  In which metal scraps and silver dust (from the artist’s lemmel pot) are torch blasted onto each piece.  Painting with fire onto metal.

London Design Festival 2018 Review