Eliot Spaulding is a California-based, female visual artist with a focus on sustainability, craft, and community, who believes in the power of art to cross disciplines, and be a catalyst for social and environmental change.

Previously working as a commercial installation artist for nearly a decade provided Eliot with a firsthand view of the overconsumption and waste created within the fashion industry, inspiring a desire to bring the conversation of sustainability to the forefront of her emerging personal practice. With an affinity for the folk and decorative arts, her work utilizes historical craft techniques, enticing the viewer with handworked details to then reveal deeper commentary on critical environmental and social concepts of our time. Residing in her hometown of Santa Barbara, California, Eliot takes weekly ritualistic-like trips to the ocean where she gathers inspiration, studies the local geology, documents her findings, and collects washed up waste. She enjoys the challenge of working with discarded materials, aiming to transform and elevate them beyond their perceived limitations.

Eliot received her BFA from Chapman University cum laude with Departmental Honors and an emphasis in 3D Environmental Display. During her tenure as a Display Artist for major retailer Anthropologie, Eliot ideated and created one-of-a-kind art installations and window displays throughout stores across the country as a member of a select traveling team of artists. She enjoyed mentoring interns and assistants, and hosting free community workshops where she taught a variety of craft techniques involved in making large-scale works. Through her subsequent freelance business, Eliot designed and created numerous bespoke installations for corporate campaigns and headquarters, boutiques, private homes, and nonprofit fundraiser events for organizations such as Planned Parenthood and CASA. She served as a member of the Contemporaries Committee for the Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara for several years until its temporary closure in 2020.

During the Pandemic Eliot adapted, and launched a painting studio practice from her apartment, selling works to clients worldwide, but ultimately found herself craving a return to her installation roots. In 2022, the concept for her emergent, public installation work ‘10 Knots’ earned her a Scholarship for further development in Venice, Italy. While in Venice, ‘10 Knots’ received an invitation for exhibition in the historic Palazzo Mora, running in parallel with the 60th Venice Arts Biennale in 2024. Currently Eliot is fundraising for the execution and installation of the ‘10 Knots’ project.

ELIOT SPAULDING

Mermaid Purse

Salt Coil