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Transformative and thought-provoking, Maryam Ebtekar and Michelle Trewin reimagine everyday household litter as artworks that are meaningful, beautiful and enduring.

Ebtekar challenges perceptions of craft, value and consumption by creating sculptural and wearable works from recycled paper pulp. Drawing on her Iranian heritage, she takes inspiration from the intricate tile patterns of Persian architecture, reinterpreting these forms in a contemporary, eco-conscious context. 

Using materials such as dryer lint and thread, Trewin evokes the rich textures of rocks, grasses and natural landscapes. Her purposeful pairing of medium and subject invites reflection on how everyday lifestyle choices impact our environment. 

‘Precious Fibres’ channels the transformative potential of art to inspire connection, community and care for the world around us.   

Image credit: Maryam Ebtekar, detail from ‘From Paper to Precious 6’, 2025, recycled paper pulp, acrylic pigment, varnish, cardboard and bird netting, 80 x 59 x 30 cm, image courtesy of the artist.   

 

Maryam Ebtekar

Small sculptural vessel with an uneven, textured exterior made of raised cube-like forms. The cubes are painted with green and gold, and the interior is smooth and pale cream. The sculpture is photographed against a white background.
Maryam Ebtekar, ‘From Paper to Precious 1’, 2024, recycled paper pulp, acrylic pigment, varnish, cardboard and bird netting, 24 x 26 x 14 cm, image courtesy of the artist.
Small sculptural necklace featuring a pale, stone-like rose form with a dark red centre attached to a metal stem and mechanical-looking elements, set against a white background.
Maryam Ebtekar, ‘Necklace, For empty looks (Under Pressure Series)’, 2024, handmade paper pulp, wood, bronze, acrylic paint, enamel, brass, leather and resin, 14 x 12 x 4 cm, image courtesy of the artist.
Small sculptural vessel with an asymmetrical opening, featuring a textured exterior of raised cube-like forms. The cubes are painted blue with pink highlights. The inside surface is smooth and painted in a creamy white colour, pattered with dark thin streaks. The sculpture is photographed against a white background.
Maryam Ebtekar, ‘From Paper to Precious 7’, 2025, recycled paper pulp, acrylic pigment, varnish, cardboard and bird netting, 28 x 29 x 28 cm, image courtesy of the artist.
Small sculptural vessel with a curved, asymmetrical form, featuring a textured exterior of raised square tiles. The tiles are painted turquoise and gold. The interior of the sculpture is pale cream and marbled. The sculpture is photographed against a white background.
Maryam Ebtekar, ‘From Paper to Precious 5’, 2025, recycled paper pulp, acrylic pigment, varnish, cardboard and bird netting, 40 x 49 x 25 cm, image courtesy of the artist.

Michelle Trewin

Framed mixed-media artwork of a seed in a pod made out of grey fibrous material. There are three yellow, rounded seeds partially wrapped inside a grey material. Fine thread-like elements extend from the pod. The sculpture is suspended against a white background within a black shadow-box frame.
Michelle Trewin, ‘Rochester Seeds II’, 2025, lint, thread and seed pods on paper, 27 x 27 cm, image courtesy of the artist.
Photo of a mixed media textile artwork on white paper depicting two, rock-like forms. Each form is composed of layered and stitched pieces in muted tones of maroon, grey, black, and purple, creating circular patterns. Between and around the rock shapes, green and brown threads and textured fibres simulate tufts of grass and soil, extending slightly from the surface.
Michelle Trewin, ‘Along the Path V’, 2025, lint and thread on paper, 32 x 45 cm, image courtesy of the artist.
Horizontal textile artwork composed of five organic, stone-like forms in layered browns, greys, burgundy, and pink, stitched with visible thread and accented with tufts of green fibre, arranged against a light background.
Michelle Trewin, ‘The Extended Path’, 2025, lint and thread on paper, 32 x 45 cm, image courtesy of the artist.
Framed mixed-media textile artwork featuring a diamond-shaped teal fabric form with stitched yellow-brown dots and a seed in the middle. Dried plant fibres extend upwards from the seed. The artwork is set against a white background in a black frame.
Michelle Trewin, ‘Seed Series No.1’, 2025, lint, thread and seed pods on paper, 27 x 27 cm, image courtesy of the artist.