It has been a great pleasure to meet (sort of) one of my Art heros and conduct an interview with them. I was a little star stuck at Tate Britain recently and really wanted to say hello but was to scared to say hello (shame on me ! ) regardless to say I contacted her and she was willing to give an interview for my developing my creative practice grant… below is the interview thanks so much Sarah Maple………
1/ Tell me you are most famous for your works made at Kingston Uni which were picked up by Saatchi. How did that initial fame affect your practice?
Yes when I was in my third year at art school I won a prize from the Saatchi Gallery. It was a really wonderful feeling to be selected by this prestigious panel of judges at such a young age. In a way winning was a blessing and a curse! Having that under my belt led to lots of other opportunities and helped with my confidence as an artist. But at the same time I was so young and was still figuring out what kind of artist I was. I cringe at some of that early work that never should have seen the light of day haha!
2/ What are you working on now / exhibitions, interests, development in practice?
I am currently artist in residence at Bradford Museum as part of a bigger project with the Decolonising Institute at UAL. It’s a new program to get more diverse artists into UK collections. It’s a really exciting project and I’ve not had the opportunity to delve into a collection in this way before! I’m a few months in and have a good idea of a new large scale video work I’m going to make but I can’t say what it is yet! I also have 2 major projects coming up in 2025 but I also can’t say what those are yet either. Sorry that’s not helpful! But watch this space basically.
3/ Tell me what's the best thing about being an Artist and what's the thing that niggles you about being an Artist?
The best thing about being artist is that everyday I do what a love. Okay that’s not entirely true because being an artist is actually about 90% admin! But on the creative days when I’m making things it’s the best thing in the world and I’m still pinching myself that this is my job. What niggles me is….well it’s not a job where you can ever switch off. Your brain is working 24/7, even in bed at night I’m thinking about it. It’s knackering!
4/ You are represented by Kochxbox in Amsterdam, Tell me how your work is received in the Netherlands?
I love it there and the humour translates really well. I think they get what I’m trying to say and in the way I’m saying it. It’s probably the country where I’ve shown the most and I feel very grateful for my supportive gallery there. They’ve supported me for over ten years, I couldn’t do it without them!
5/ Any advice for an emerging/ struggling Artist?
Don’t give up! And use all the available sources out there. When I left art school it felt like a desert, I had no idea what to do or who to ask advice to. But now there’s so many peer networking opportunities and courses and advice you can get. But also - use social media to show what you do but not too much!