About
Waltener’s practice is rooted in ideas about ecology, sustainability and reuse. Sculptures, installations and performances draw inspiration from a range of craft practice from ceramics to textile weaving and basketry. Often working in participatory settings, making activities are designed to facilitate personal, social and cultural histories to be exchanged, thus creating new knowledge and imaginaries.
Waltener recently founded the Flax Exchange, a community project involving growing and processing flax for fibre and textile making. The project and was inspired by the idea of a textile fiberheds, a term coined by Rebecca Burgess describing networks connecting growers, makers and consumers. The Flax Exchange was initiated at The Nose, a project space in Walton-on-the-Naze, before moving to Harwich then the Isle of Dogs and Poplar where an exhibition and performance of Flax Suite was presented in May 2024, then performed again by 100+ performers at the Whitechapel Gallery December last.
Waltener is a co-founder of Common Agency Projects with dance artist Laura Glaser, a member of the Ambient Jam Collective and associate artist with Entelechy Arts, an arts organisation working with historically marginalised individuals and groups. He is an associate lecturer at the University of the Arts London, a resident artist at Stave Hill Ecological Park and author of a number of publications including Practical Basketry Techniques and The BAG Book.
Waltener has exhibited in museum and galleries worldwide. Projects include We Are Commoners, a Craftspace touring exhibition 2020-22; The BAG (Building Action Group) Project, Minerva Academie, Groningen, 2019; Over Here, Jupiter Artland, Scotland, 2018; Unearthing, Tate Modern 2017; Score for the Atlantic Wall, Raverijde, 2016; Yan Tan Tethera, Cecil Sharp House, London and CC de Ververij, Ronse, 2015; Make Believe, Nottingham Castle Museum and Art Gallery, Nottingham 2013; Love Lace, Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, Australia; Another World Wide Web, Federation Square, Melbourne, Australia 2010; Taking Time: Craft and the Slow Revolution, Birmingham City Museum and Art Gallery, 2009; Fabric of Myth, Compton Verney, 2008; Radical Lace and Subversive Knitting, Museum of Arts and Design, New York, 2007.
The artist lives and works in London and Essex.
