Born in 1942 and earning an MFA from Claremont Graduate University in 1976, Ferne Jacobs of Los Angeles, California, has been at the forefront of the fiber arts revolution since the 1960s. Reinventing and advancing traditional basket-making techniques, Jacobs innovated an entirely original genre of sculpture, which she remains committed to today.

A visionary and master of her craft, Ferne Jacobs’50-year career has been dedicated to transforming an ancient medium, making it relevant in the modern world. Her organic yet solid structures are constructed using coiled and twined waxed linen thread. Unencumbered by the restrictions of a loom, her process enables her to move freely between colors and forms using only her hands. In her hands, the inherently soft and amorphous materials become strong, resilient forms.

With deep crevices and dramatic curves and the ability to hang like necklaces from the wall, Ferne Jacobs‘s woven fiber sculptures seem almost functional. Since 1970, Jacobs has been making what she calls“three-dimensional fiberwork.”Her acute sense of color melded with her poetic and intuitive approach set her work apart. Her sculptures have appeared in museum and gallery exhibitions across the globe and reside in esteemed permanent collections, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York).