Cork

I have always loved the lineage of cork - how it holds history and simultaneously becomes a sculptural material of movement, texture, and depth. I use cork throughout my artwork in a variety of ways: sometimes purely sculptural, installed onto organic forms and mounted on walls in wine cellars, restaurants, or dining spaces; other times integrated into collage to deepen dimensionality and sensory experience.

Cork Lives, Breathes & evolves - just like art

Cork became a chosen material for me because of its historical and emotional resonance. Each piece is hand-cut at intentional angles to foster flow and movement across a surface. Collage then becomes a multidimensional narrative, inviting tactile engagement and appreciation for the beauty found within material detail.

My collage process weaves together images, fabric, and found objects into a unified composition. Collage—one of the most versatile storytelling forms—allows for the expression of complex narratives through thoughtful material arrangements. It invites viewers to explore relationships within each component, each gesture, and the overall visual experience.

A Brief History of Wine

Throughout human history, wine has not only been a popular drink but also a cultural symbol: of celebration, ritual, communion, and connection. Archaeological evidence suggests the earliest known winemaking dating as far back as 6000 BCE in what is now Georgia, followed by ancient wine traditions in Iran, Armenia, and the Mediterranean. In Ancient Egypt, wine was reserved for the elite and used in ceremonial rites; in Greece, it was central to philosophical banquets and symposia; and in Rome, it became an everyday staple across all social classes.

But wine is more than fermented grapes—it is also the story of how humans learned to contain, protect, and preserve something alive. And that’s where cork comes in!

Cork is harvested from the bark of the cork oak tree, primarily found in the western Mediterranean. It was first recorded as a wine sealant by the Greeks around the 5th century BCE. However, it wasn’t until the 17th century that cork became widely used as the standard wine bottle stopper in Europe, thanks in part to the rise of glass-blown bottles with uniform necks. Cork offered something different: elasticity, impermeability, and a quiet magic. It could breathe, just enough to allow the wine to age, to evolve, to become more than what it was.

For an artist working with cork, the medium is layered with meaning. It speaks of transformation, containment, nature's engineering, and the long human yearning to hold onto something precious, whether it be wine, a memory, or a moment in time. Cork is also constantly evolving - it morphs, expands, and contrasts over time, meaning the art I create with it does the same. Cork is not merely a material; it is a witness to humanity’s desire to preserve what matters most.

Gold & Cork: Where craftsmanship meets atmosphere.

Gold & Cork creates immersive, handcrafted cork installations that transform everyday spaces into sculptural environments. Each piece is composed of individually cut, shaped, painted, and artistically arranged wine corks, allowing for a level of depth and refinement rarely seen in functional décor.

What begins as a simple natural material becomes a work of architectural art—rich in texture, warm in tone, and alive with pattern, rhythm, and detail. Whether protecting a wall or defining a space, each installation is designed with both aesthetic presence and long-term durability in mind.

Rooted in sustainability, storytelling, and artisanal precision, every cork is treated like a miniature sculptural unit. Designs range from geometric symmetry to organic flow, with options for natural finishes, custom color palettes, metallic leaf, stains, paint-washes, or fully immersive mixed-media compositions. Framed options and LED-integrated designs are also available.