Erin Bassett

"Art is the language that all people speak. It cuts across racial, cultural, social, educational, and economic barriers. It enhances cultural appreciation and awareness. Creativity is a cornerstone of success and is present in every piece of artistic work we see. It is a passion of artists to take ideas and dreams and turn them into reality. A reality that is critical, layered, organic, and deep. These characteristics are showcased in my delightful, engaging, and inventive company Erin Bassett Artistry. My artwork is a magical landscape of shapes that invites the eye to investigate what it’s seeing. I combine ancient techniques with unique materials to create fun fashion jewelry. I want to engulf the wearer with the intrigue of structure and the emotional power of color."

Erin Bassett is an award-winning textile artist based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Erin designs, sculpts, and creates artistic wearable art accessories that are fascinating, elegant, and original. These incredible wearable works of art can either dress up a plain outfit or put the cherry on top of a formal gown. These are statement pieces without the weight of the statement, available in a range of thoughtful seasonal colors and fantastic dimensional designs. Erin spends hours creating each piece by hand, which is reflected in the quality of her work. There is a certain elegance and magic to this jewelry making them the perfect conversation piece.

During the 2020 quarantine, Erin explored her creative juices by attending a webinar about color trends. The host mentioned sustainability as a trend, listing several companies that were producing interesting new products naturally. Of particular interest to Erin was a waterproof faux leather made of coconut husk with some qualities of paper that seemed ideal for creating jewelry. She has been using Malai, a flexible, durable, organic, sustainable, bio composite material, to create her beautiful jewelry ever since. Malai is created in Southern India, solving the waste problem of the coconut industry as the husk is a byproduct after harvesting the flesh. She imports it in large flat sheets that she paints, sculpts, and turns into jewelry. You can even see the coconut fibers in the natural material when left unpainted, which Erin does intentionally in her designs. Clean by wiping with water and a clean cloth, reshaping, and letting dry naturally. Avoid intense heat exposure.

Erin’s artistic journey began at the age of five with painting lessons with her grandmother, who was an international award-winning artist. Erin was given the gift of a camera at the age of 18. After graduating from the University of Florida with a BFA in Creative Photography, she started exhibiting her art and working as a professional photographer for over a decade. At the age of 28, she fell in love with fabrics and continued her studies at the Savannah College of Art + Design, where she received her MFA in Textile Design. She started Erin Bassett Artistry in 2015. Her inspiration stems from her fascination with the sculptural characteristics of silk that she developed in grad school. Erin designs, sculpts, and creates wearable art accessories that are always fascinating, unexpected, and original. She has exhibited at Art Basel in Miami, Art Expo in New York, and has her work in collections including the Bellagio in Las Vegas, the Kennedy Center, and the Smithsonian catalog.