Jan Hopkins, Mukilteo

Jan Hopkins is an innovative sculptural fiber artist whose work transforms everyday natural materials – fruit peels, fish skins, leaves, petals, and seed pods – into intricate and evocative works of art.

Inspired by Native American basketry she encountered at the Heard Museum in Phoenix, Hopkins pursued extensive study with both traditional and contemporary basket makers, including training at a basketry school in Seattle.

What began as a hobby quickly became a lifelong passion as she immersed herself in every class and technique she could find.

Over time, her work evolved from basketry into complex sculptural fiber art that explores texture, form, and storytelling. Her breakthrough came when she exhibited at Seattle’s Sticks & Stones gallery, where her entire collection sold out.

She began exhibiting at Fountainhead Gallery in Seattle, where her work was viewed by Jane Sauer, owner of Jane Sauer Gallery in Santa Fe. She then started showing exclusively at the Jane Sauer Gallery, which took her work to SOFA New York and SOFA Chicago, two annual four-day international expositions showcasing select artists from the gallery. Demand from collectors grew strong, and the gallery began pre-selling her pieces while continuing to showcase her work at SOFA (the Sculpture Objects Functional Art Fair), where it could reach a wider audience.

Today, Hopkins’ sculptural fiber art stands as a testament to the beauty and creative potential found in the simplest natural materials, inviting viewers to pause, reflect, and connect with the wonder of the everyday world.