Aileen Balfe

My work is an exploration of 'home' as both a physical and psychological construct. I am interested in how environments shape identity, memory, and emotional attachment.

My collection of brooches is inspired by the mid-century modern architecture of my childhood home, defined by red brick, tubular steel, wood panelling and a spiral staircase. I was drawn to its strong lines and geometric forms, which shaped my early love for design.

Alongside this, I was immersed in the colourful pop culture of the 1980s and 1990s. The brooches translate these influences into wearable forms, exploring geometry, layering and material contrast, with Formica introduced to reference the colours and materials of 1970s interiors.