The work of British artist and designer Kathy Dalwood intersects the worlds of fine art and design but
whatever the theme, always centres around the process of casting. Working primarily in plaster and
concrete, her practice explores histories of sculpture, fashion and architecture and in her unique
approach, in order to create her sculptural imagery, she casts directly from real objects and
materials.
Her sculpture and design work has found expression in some very different collections, contexts and
projects. "The Plaster Bust Collection" and "Secret Society Banquet" installations (Baroque-style
plaster banquets as a context for the busts) have been widely exhibited internationally in contrasting
locations from castles and stately homes in Britain and Europe to flagship design stores in Fifth
Avenue such as Bergdorf Goodman. Spotted by leading interior designers, the busts now adorn
various establishments in major cities from the Crillon in Paris to the Darcy in Washington. With the
same methodology – direct casting from real life objects –she’s undertaken large public sculpture
commissions including a shopping centre and hospital in Wales, creating a narrative in giant plaster
wall friezes referencing local place, architecture and history.
Alongside her figurative sculpture, she continues to expand her SETSQUARES collections of cast
concrete relief tiles and friezes, abstract designs inspired by architecture. Modernism isa strong
reference but so too is architecture created by ancient civilizations.
A recently completed project is Pharrell Williams’ The Goodtime Hotel in Miami where celebrity San
Francisco designer Ken Fulk set Kathy a brief to create a collection of relief tiles referencing Mayan
architecture as a key design feature throughout the building. However contrasting the different
spheres of Kathy’s sculpture, they are united through the technique of casting which provides
endless possibilities in the exploration of shape and texture expressed in positive or negative form.
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