Fiona Campbell
Fiona Campbell
Shepton Mallet, United Kingdom
Sculpture
Explore the artistic vision and craftsmanship of Fiona Campbell
Nestling Cocoon
Part of a series of cocoon pieces. Relates to my interest in the woven form, metamorphosis, growth, renewal and rebirth. Free-standing, it can be installed indoors or outside. Made of steel and wire - some recycled.
50 × 209 × 64 Inches
GBP 520
Man models himself on Earth, Earth on Heaven
My work reflects an interest in our relationship with the natural world, nature’s cyclical persistence, vitalism and the essence of life. I work in a linear way, constructing drawings in space. Instinctive building processes such as wrapping, weaving and layering become a form of 3d mark making. I create mixed media sculptures wrought as primal, linear, nest-like structures often in an apparent state of emergence, growth or metamorphosis. A mix of delicate and strong, earthy and ethereal, they are often an extension of my drawings.\r\nThis piece is made in 3 sections, which bolt together. It’s my tallest piece to date (3.6m high) - designed so I can carry it and transport it with no help. It has a loose quality, like a 3-d sketch - something I am trying to retain in recent work. The raw energy, longevity and varied patinas of steel, copper, wire, found and recycled materials combine well with the concept of reusing things, giving them a rebirth and the playfulness of creating forms from given shapes. I am a scraptor at heart!
1 × 4 × 1 Inches
GBP 2,900
Heron
A larger than life scrap steel sculpture of a heron, installed in Stourhead National Trust Estate, Wiltshire, UK for a specific narrative sculpture trail in 2011 (by my Scraptors sculpture group). Made from various found and recycled steel parts, including old tools, horseshoes, grills and machinery. Now sold.
2 × 2 × 2 Inches
Sold
Spiky Cocoon II (version 2)
Based on a cocoon form in nature, this is part of a series of cocoon-inspired pieces - some more abstract. I am interested in woven forms, their functions and the instinctive process of weaving. \r\n\r\nMy work reflects an interest in nature’s cyclical persistence, vitalism and the essence of life. I create mixed media sculptures wrought as primal, linear, nest-like structures often in an apparent state of emergence, growth or metamorphosis. A mix of delicate and strong, earthy and ethereal, they are often an extension of my drawings.\r\n
28 Inches
GBP 370
Artist Statement
Born and bred in Kenya, travelled, lived in Sussex, London, Newcastle and Bristol, I now live and work in Somerset, UK. I graduated with distinction in Fine Art, Sculpture from the Byam Shaw School of Art, London and later gained a PGCE at Exeter University. My work reflects a passionate interest in our relationship with the natural world, nature’s cyclical persistence, vitalism and the essence of life. I create mixed media sculptures wrought as primal, linear, nest-like structures often in an apparent state of emergence, growth or metamorphosis. A mix of delicate and strong, earthy and ethereal, they are often an extension of my drawings.
I work in a linear way, constructing drawings in space. Instinctive building processes such as wrapping, weaving and layering become a form of 3d mark making. The raw energy, longevity and varied patinas of steel, copper, wire, found and recycled materials combine well with the concept of reusing things, giving them a rebirth and the playfulness of creating forms from given shapes. Woven or skeletal forms inspired by the micro and macrocosmic world, threads weaving through all things, colour, texture and transparency, latent energy, love, loss and renewal are all concerns. I love the contrast of organic, bulbous forms and elongated, spindly fragility.
Alongside my own practice as an artist, I teach art, run community projects, workshops, commissions and hold artist-in-residence posts. My work is exhibited and sold locally and internationally. Awards include the Atkinson Gallery Summer Show ’11 prize and 3d award for David Shepherd’s Wildlife Artist of the Year ‘09, London. I was selected and highly commended as a Green Capital Artist in Residence for Bristol’s Big Green Week (’12) and my exhibition of work at the Create Centre, Arnolfini and harbour. My series of giant floating diatom sculptures toured London’s Canal Festivals during summer ‘12. I am part of the Landfill Art Project, USA. Public commissions include 7 large permanently sited sculptures at Dobbies, Somerset; a large recycled piece for Carymoor Environmental Centre’s sensory garden, Somerset; a giant 4.5m Spider, created with public participation for Glastonbury Festival ’10 and a successful narrative Sculpture Trail at Stourhead (’11), with the Scraptors group I co-founded.