Zoe Chapman
Fine Wire Portraiture | Filografi Reimagined | Icons in Line
Zoe Chapman is a British artist whose portraits are constructed from fine wire and hundreds of precisely placed nails, creating works that sit between drawing and sculpture. From a distance, her pieces read as finely rendered line drawings. Up close, the illusion gives way to a carefully engineered surface of tension, shadow and rhythm, built entirely by hand.
Drawing on the traditional art of Filografi, Zoe has reimagined the technique into a contemporary practice focused on iconic figures and powerful human presence. Each work begins with a deliberate framework of nails, before wire is guided, looped and tensioned to shape expression and depth. The process is slow and exacting, demanding patience, control and absolute commitment to detail.
Light plays an essential role in her work. As the viewer moves, shadows shift and lines soften or sharpen, giving each portrait a subtle sense of movement and life. This interplay between material and perception is central to Zoe’s practice, turning familiar faces into evolving images rather than fixed representations.
Zoe’s portraits reward time and attention. They are confident, considered works that reveal their complexity gradually, offering both visual impact and quiet intimacy. Positioned comfortably between fine art and design, her work brings clarity, craft and presence to contemporary spaces.
Each piece is a study in restraint and precision - proof that line, when handled with discipline and intent, can carry extraordinary power.
Artist Terms of Sale: This artist sets their own Terms & Conditions, which apply to any purchase. You can view their site below. If no terms are published there, Artisan Collective’s Fallback Terms will be used.
