In Art, our creative children took on a challenge that was equal parts sculpture and storytelling—they made wire sculptures inspired by the incredible artist Elizabeth Berrien, one of the pioneers of wire art!

With just a few coils, loops, and bends, the children have transformed a simple piece of wire into something alive with motion, expression, and imagination. From wild plants to graceful animals, our classroom has been transformed into a mini-gallery of 3D masterpieces! Do have a look on Monday 9th June (our next open classroom).

Who is Elizabeth Berrien?

Our inspiration for this project, Elizabeth Berrien, is a trailblazing wire sculptor whose love for animals and intricate forms began when she was just a child—just like many of our young artists!

As a little girl, Elizabeth would spend hours lying in the grass, watching ants and insects with wonder. Her first attempt at art came at the age of five, when she imagined a long, looping line on the ceiling and tried to create a knitted blanket for her pet turtle. (It didn’t work out—but the idea of looping and weaving never left her!)

In school, she had a special talent for geometry and topology (the study of shapes and space). These subjects became a huge influence on her later wire work, helping her create elegant, swirling sculptures of animals that seem to leap and dance right out of the air!

What Did We Do?

After studying Elizabeth Berrien’s incredible animal sculptures, we dove into the process ourselves:

• We visualized movement — like how a bird flies or a cat stretches.

• We sketched our designs, planning the curves and connections.

• We twisted, bent, and shaped wire into graceful 3D forms, layering lines to show depth and detail.

It wasn’t always easy! Wire sculpture takes patience, problem-solving, and creativity—but our artists were up to the challenge.

✨ Want to Keep the Creativity Going?

Here’s how you can join the fun at home:

• Ask to see their sculpture and let them explain how they made it. There’s a story behind every twist!

• Try wire art together—a simple spool of craft wire can lead to hours of invention.

• Explore geometry in the world around you—Elizabeth Berrien found math and art in everything from spider webs to staircases!