Carl Fox is a London based artist working with the ancient techniques of marquetry and parquetry. Renowned for his innovative fusion of leather and wood veneer, his work is an exploration of human emotion through form, texture, colour, and line.
Originally a hairdresser, Carl spent over 25 years mastering various skills, including upholstery, textile work and furniture restoration. His passion for craft eventually led him to marquetry, where he combines heritage techniques with contemporary technology.
Carl draws inspiration from the vast history of decorative surface design. Fascinated with both modernist and classical styles, Carl combines precise geometric forms and traditional figurative elements to create thought-provoking, tactile pieces. His work studies how colour and texture can evoke complex memories and emotions, and his practice combines the emotional, storytelling abilities of art with the innate connection the viewer has with material, the backbone of the craft world. Carl aims to explore our intrinsic connection to nature, and our collective, often unconscious, relationship to materials that have been used by our ancestors for millennia.
In recognition of his commitment to his craft , Carl has previously been awarded studio space and mentorship by the Worshipful Leathersellers Company at Cockpit Deptford, and in 2023, he received the Carpenters Company QEST Scholarship. This allowed him to explore a combination of traditional marquetry skills and steam-bending techniques, with an aim to transition his work from two-dimensional formats to interactive, three-dimensional sculptural forms. Carl's works have been showcased in prestigious events such as the Venice Biennale, Homo Faber and Collect Art Fair, and are held in collections both in the UK and internationally.
