Esther Traugot

Artworks

River Stones, 2018. Granite stone pairs, dyed cotton/bamboo yarn. Courtesy of the artist.

Pale Green, 2/4, Flight Series 2, 2020. Found butterfly, dyed cotton thread, wood mount, plexi-glass box. Courtesy of the artist.

Branches, 2021. Tree branch, dyed cotton/bamboo yarn. Courtesy of the artist.

Flight, with Baby Yellows, 2020. Found butterflies, dyed cotton thread, pins, wood mount, plexi-glass box. Courtesy of the artist.


“In restoring some of the integrity of the pieces, I enjoy bringing out the beauty of their forms, their imperfections, and missing parts. In a mysterious way the coverings reveal more vividly what is already there and bring out their natural essence or presence.” —Esther Traugot

Esther Traugot is inspired by the Japanese art of kintsugi where broken pottery is repaired with gold lacquer making the piece more valuable despite its damage. In the same way she uses thread to “prop up” or “put back” what has been abandoned or broken. Meticulous as it is, the wrapping becomes an act of veneration, mimicking her instinct to protect what is vulnerable and precious.

About the Artist

Esther Traugot received her BFA from UC Berkeley and her MFA from Mills College in 2009. Her work has been exhibited in many Bay Area venues such as Berkeley Art Center, Chandra Cerrito Contemporary, Palo Alto Art Center, and Bedford Gallery. She has two large installations in the permanent collection of Neiman Marcus. She currently lives and works in Sebastopol, California.