Gemma Cross

Starting out with needle felting fairies and toys for my children, my inspiration and ability flourished, as did my passion to create.

I practice both needle felting and wet felting, using predominately Corriedale wool and occasionally merino wool. Depending on the shades of white needed for my sculptures, I use other fibres such as mulberry leaf silk, banana tops and bamboo tops.

My approach to sculpture is varied, from uncomfortable life study portraits, to life sized local endangered and threatened species of flora and fauna. By addressing the unknown in this way, I am able to explore and communicate a message of awareness and compassion for the earth and ourselves, and prompt respect, inquiry, conversation and action. 

My work asks viewers to learn the stories of my sculptures, and seek out their habitats and experience their environments, respectively.