Anna Bailey

My work explores the complexity of restraint found in lines and circles. In a world of endless options, I believe restraint is a virtue, and I want my work to mirror that simpler world—beauty from restraint. We don’t have to do it all.

I create wood relief mosaics from a limited visual vocabulary—lines, arcs, and circles—arranged in layered planes so light, shadow, and grain provide the ornament. I favor measured geometry, quiet gradients, and durable craft.

First editions are fully hand-built in my woodshop: I design each composition, cut every shape, sand for precise fit, and micro-nail each piece to a wood backer—no glue. I finish with a curated color palette of stains and paints chosen for livable interiors. I study color and design trends to refine this palette, aiming for hues that feel current yet calm. Each work is framed and finished with a protective clear coat.

For select second editions, I digitally redraw my original composition and use a laser to cut only the top pattern layer(s). I then sand, fit, and micro-nail the pieces, apply colors from the same curated palette, frame, and clear-coat—each one built individually. These editions are not mass-produced; natural grain and hand finishing make every work singular.

I often incorporate studio offcuts to minimize waste and to celebrate small, beautiful grain moments that would otherwise be lost. My aim is clarity that still feels human: precise geometry, honest materials, and surfaces made to endure. I do not sell reproductions or outsource production; all design direction and final decisions are mine. I collaborate with my husband, Nathanael Bailey, as a collaborating artist who assists with fabrication and finishing under my direction, and we will both be on-site for the full event.