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Helen Sargeant

Todmorden
An interdisciplinary artist who creates work about the body and the emotional and physical labour of mothering, not shying away from its messy realities. Working with drawing, writing, painting, printing, stitching, photography and performance.

Working from my home and studio in Todmorden I investigate and explore  my identity as a woman and mother. The focus of my practice draws from my body and lived experiences. I produce ambitious, critical art on my own and in collaboration with others. Ideas drive my practice and I am passionate about access to art, the politics and economics of care and mental health. 

I have worked as an academic, curator and producer and delivered socially engaged projects, workshops and short courses. In 2020, I self published, edited and designed Maternal Art Magazine, where 24 artists were  invited to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, with a working title of Stay At Home.

I work as an independent artist mentor and have also worked  for organisations such as Artist/Mother Network, Thrive Community and Spilt Milk Gallery. 

Recent work explores performing in the landscapes of Yorkshire and Cornwall, informed by the work of Barbara Hepworth, Monica Sjoo and Ithell Colquhoun. I am fascinated by wild places,  ancient sites, monuments and matriarchial cultures. I am interested in reinventing and interpreting the meaning of these places in connection to my body, maternal heritage and identity. I work alone and with Delpha Hudson as part of our collaborative project Feral Mothers. 

Recent exhibitions include Womb, Room Tomb ((2024), Re-naissance, UNIT Gallery London, (2023); Play & Compassion Kingsmill House, Dursley (2023); The Procreate Project Archive, Modern Art Oxford (2023); 60 Drawings +10; The Whitaker, Rawtenstall (2022); This is Essential Work , UWE Bristol (2022); Make Art/ Not Sad, Maternal Art, (2022) and My Mother is beautiful (after Yoko Ono), Linden Art Gallery, Hebden Bridge (2021). 

 

Blue Paintings Series

Blue Drawing Series

Ruin, Madron Moor, Cornwall

Escape from St Helen's Oratory, Cape Cornwall

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Highlights: 30 September - 6 October, 2024

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