C. Mae Bloom on Found Objects, Craft, and the Eternal Amateur

In an interview with Alma Feigis, artist C. Mae Bloom discusses her practice centered on abandoned objects, familial craft traditions, and the tension between labor and pleasure. Bloom, 33, describes her work as "narrative constellations" influenced by Olga Tokarczuk. Her recent exhibition "Borrowers" at Hannah Barry Gallery in London features dioramas, tablescapes, and metalwork. She explores how objects acquire meaning through ownership and time, often sourcing from house clearance stalls. Bloom's mother and grandmother, a textile worker in London's textile district, guide her hand. She rejects hierarchies of materials and embraces being an "eternal amateur," experimenting with bronze, nail polish, and felt-tip pens. The exhibition includes four distinct bodies of work addressing optimism, pessimism, industry, and hobby. Bloom critiques the commodification of craft and invisible labor, noting that handmade items often involve exploited workers. She aims to create a show in a village hall, reacting to existing elements.