ARTISANS

My name is Maggie LeDuc and I am a gourd artist, basket weaver and fiber artist.  I started weaving pine needle baskets about 30 years ago.  Weaving pine needle baskets led to working with gourd art and fiber art.

Growing up in Southern California and developing a great love for nature with the mountains, oceans and nearby desert so close at hand, has been an inspiration for my art.

Weaving baskets and creating gourd art, in which I put pieces of nature into my work, seems like a natural extension of my love of the outdoors.  I collect and recycle pieces of nature I find while hiking and traveling in the many different places I roam.  I incorporate pine needles, cones, seashells, palm branches, antlers, tree branches, philodendron leaves or whatever natural treasures look interesting to me.  I love finding different ways to recycle or rebirth, bits of nature and share with others. 

My basketry and gourd art embodies the most vital elements of my character, energy, creativity, gentleness and caring.  My art brings me much joy as well as having others appreciate the art I create.

I have participated in numerous art festivals, art shows, and galleries in California, Arizona and Nevada over the years. 

I’ve been awarded numerous awards for my artwork over the years.  In 2024, I was awarded Best in Show for one of my gourd art pieces, in the Southern California Gourd Competition.

I feel blessed that I found my creative spirit and reaffirmed.