Claire Brewster
I use old and out-of-date maps and atlases as my fabric to create intricate, delicate and detailed sculptures and collages that have been described as ‘exquisitely ethereal’ by the Financial Times. Nature is ever present, even in the most urban environments, taking over wherever we neglect, living in a separate yet parallel universe. I take my inspiration from the natural environment, creating entomological installations of flora and fauna from imagined locations. My birds, insects and flowers transcend borders and pass freely between countries with scant regard for rules of immigration or the effects of biodiversity. The sculptures are either pinned directly onto the wall as a large scale installation or captured in box frames. The shadows created when light is shined on them creates a dynamic three-dimensional quality and creates a feeling of movement. About Me Since I could first pick up a pencil, art was the only thing I was really interested in. My journey to become a professional artist has involved living in Spain and Romania and working for a high profile architects practice, amongst other things, whilst always working away on my art. I grew up in Lincolnshire and have been living and working in London for over 20 years. I’ve been pursuing art as a profession since 2000 and recently made the jump to work on my sculptures full-time. I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to exhibit my work widely – from Manchester Art Gallery to Sydney, Australia. You can see my sculptures in public and private collections all over the world, including: The Corinthia Hotel, London The Hayatt Hotel, New Orleans The Caledonian Hotel, Edinburgh I have also been lucky enough to have my work published in many magazines and books including – Vogue, World of Interiors, Marie-Claire Maison, Casa de Arbitrare, Paper, Tear, Fold, Rip, Crease, Cut – Black Dog publishing and Underground Maps – Lund Humphries. In 2012 I am please to say I was invited to be an inaugural member of the Perrier Jouet Art Salon and Prize. The salon meets twice a year and awards a prize to an artist/designer within 5 year of graduating.
Solo exhibitions
2014 - Personal Territories - Interior Design Philosophy - Switzerland
2014 - Nature Mort, Pitfield London
2009 - Solo show, Centre Point, London
2008 - Wildlife, Jaggedart, London 2007 - Solo Show, Liberty, London
2004 - The Prince Bonaparte, London
Selected group exhibitions
2015 - The Forest of Possibility - Chrysalis Arts - Touring Exhibition
2015 - Forming Words, Clotsworthy Manor, Ireland
2014 - The London Art Fair, TAG Fine Arts
2014 - Shadows and Dirt, HCC Central, Houston, Texas
2013 - Nature in Craft, Wayne Arts Centre, Philadelphia, USA
2013 - The First Cut, Sea City Museum, Southampton
2013 - The London Art Fair, TAG Fine Arts,
2013 - The First Cut, Djanogly Gallery, Nottingham,
2013 - Paper Biennale, CODA, Apeldorn, The Netherlands,
2013 - SOFA, Chicago, USA
2012 - The London Art Fair, TAG Fine Art, London,
2012 - Mind the Map, London Transport Museum, London
2012 - Get Carta, Karin Jansen Project Space, London,
2012 - On the Map, Hastings Museum and Galleries,
2012 - The First Cut, Manchester Art Gallery,
2012 - SOFA, New York and Chicago, Flow Gallery
2011 - The Art of Mapping, TAG Fine Art, London,
2011 - The Ghosts of Gone Birds, London,
2011 - Please Write, Posted Projects, Hackney, London,
2011 - Gallery S Bensimon, Paris, France,
2011 - Bird Show, Craft2eu Gallery, Hamburg, Germany,
2011- Show Case, Yorkshire Sculpture Park,
2011 - Modified Expression, National Craft Gallery, Ireland,
2011 - Origin 2011, London
2010 - Keep Me Posted, Posted, Hackney London
2010 - Paper Works, The Devon Guild of Craftsmen, Bovey Tracey, Devon
2009 - Cut & Fold, The New Brewery Arts, Cirencester, Gloucester
2009 - Menagerie of Birds, Pitt Studio, Worcester
2009 - Rock, Paper, Scissors, Houston Centre for Contemporary Craft, Houston, Texas, USA 2009 - Spring Show, Jaggedart, London
2009 - Transformations, Flow, London
2009 - Unfolding, Chapel Gallery, Ormskirk
2007 - Second Time Around, The Gallery @ Adventure Ecology, London
2005 - Posted, Hiscox Art Projects, London
2005 - The House Warming, The Residence, London
2004 - Kick Start, Start Woolwich, London
2004 - State of Independence, Stoke Newington, London
2003 - The Beautiful and The Useless, Standpoint Gallery, London
Collections
The Caledonian Hotel, Edinburgh, Twitter, New Orleans Hyatt, New Orleans, The Corinthia Hotel, London, The Ampersand Hotel, London, Bury Art Gallery, The Barkantine Centre, London, Painting For Hospitals and private collections in USA, The Philippines, Australia and Europe
Education
Sept 1986 – June 1987 BTEC Diploma General Art and Design, Lincoln College of Art
Sept 1987 – July 1990 BA (Hons) Textiles/Fashion, Middlesex University, specialism tapestry weaving
Selected Publications
Elle Decoration, Upcyclist, FT How to Spend It, The Observer Magazine, Vogue, World of Interiors, House & Garden, Paper Play, Sandu Publishing, Ghosts of Gone Birds, Bloomsbury, Paper Runway, Period Living, Asiana Airline In-Flight magazine, Paper – Tear, Fold, Rip, Crease, Cut, Black Dog publishing, Casa da Abitare
Public Art Projects
September 2007 Freeform – Turda, Romania – 2 week project to produce art works for annual street festival, part of a team of 5 artists.
March 2006 Freeform – project to transform small play area of nursery in central London with 3 murals and other art works.
MEMBERSHIPS/TEACHING
Inaugural Member of the Perrier Jouet Arts Salon and Prize
Workshop leader at Victoria and Albert Museum
I have run workshops for the London Transport Museum, Manchester Art Gallery, English Heritage and Fulham Palace