Lewis Prosser Weaves Basketry into Performance and Folklore

Cardiff-based artist Lewis Prosser, a self-described 'absurdist basketmaker,' creates sculptural baskets that double as costumes, drawing on Welsh and English folk traditions. His project 'Making Merrie' references mummers' plays, combining music and dance. The wicker costumes, made using regional basketry techniques, are held by the Folk Preservation Society in Teignmouth, Devon. Prosser's collaborative project 'The Baskets Between Carnival and Lent,' inspired by Pieter Breughel the Elder's 1559 painting, involves ten basketmakers from across Europe recreating 24 woven objects from the artwork. The finished pieces will be shown at Oriel Myrddin Gallery in Carmarthen, Wales, in spring 2027. Prosser is also developing a new performance for Burgos Biennial 2026 in Burgos, Spain, featuring a basket-based sport called 'hornball' (cuerno pelota), combining ritual harvest celebration, competitive ball games, and wearable sculptures. The biennial begins in late September 2026.