Shane Waltener’s practice is rooted in ideas about ecology, sustainability and reuse. Sculpture, installation and performance work draw inspiration from craft practice as well as and dance and movement. 

Often working in participatory settings, Waltener uses making processes to facilitate personal, social and cultural histories to be exchanged and through making, create new experience, knowledge and imaginaries.

Waltener recently set up the Flax Exchange, a project championing growing your own fabric and creating a local ‘textile fibershed’, a term coined by Rebecca Burgess escribing a network connecting growers with makers and consumers. He is a co-founder of Common Agency Projects and an associate artist with Entelechy Arts, an arts organisation working with historically marginalised individuals and groups allowing art to create new contexts and purpose to increase participation and engagement across generations, cultures and abilities. He is also an associate lecturer at the University of the Arts, London, a resident artist Stave Hill Ecological Park and co-author of Practical Basketry Techniques published by A&C Black.

Recent projects include The Valta Nest, with artist Rebecca Swift and Entelechy Arts, The Albany (London) and Valta (Oulu, Finland) 2022; We Are Commoners, with Common Agency Projects, Craftspace touring exhibition 2022-22; The BAG (Building Action Group) Project, Minerva Academie, Groningen, Netherlands 2019; Over Here, Jupiter Artland, Scotland, 2018; Unearthing, Tate Modern and Stave Hill Ecological Park.

Instagram - @shanewaltener