EMMA SHEEHY
I create imaginative spaces in my work that are escapist, funny and folkloric. They are filled with a somewhat weaponised naivety. Often drawing upon medieval-inspired imagery I like to build up a collection of creatures to play with again and again in paintings and sculptures. My work reaches back through time to conjure ancient ritual, symbols and stories closely linked to the land and the natural environment. I am influenced by mythology, medieval manuscripts and awkward public interactions.
“I use my research as a means of understanding the present. The strange creatures I create complicitly smiling at our contemporary moment and the repeating patterns we find ourselves in. They seek to communicate that to love is a freedom from pain.
Making work that privileges love has influenced my commitment to producing sculpture that is sustainably minded – mostly out of wood and carefully sourced materials. ”
Recently I have been jotting down thoughts and rough sketches during walks. The rough sketch then becomes a loose watercolour. From there I’ll see what wood I have lying around that might be able to work with the images. I shape and whittle it until it feels right and then cover it with colour. I often have to spend quite a lot of time with the work to see if it feels right and give room for little changes.
Making sculptures out of wood started when I lived at The Rectory Projects - we had a lot of scrap which was fun to experiment with and free so the stakes were low. It then became clear that producing sculpture that is sustainably minded felt important and big part of my practice.
For beautiful imagery and colour combinations I revisit the Book of Kells and William Blake. Reading is really useful for thinking about what I want to make and Maggie Nelson, Bell Hooks and poetry like that of William Blake and Pearl by Gawain Poet have played a big part in my ways of thinking and seeing. One of the places I enjoy going to to draw and write is Oxleas woods - especially during mushroom season where you’ll spot some strange ones.
I have a group of friends who love visiting National trust properties and a lot of those magical spaces have seeped into my work. Particularly the Red House which was owned by William Morris and his wife Jane Morris and 575 Wandsworth Road owned by Khadambi Asalache. 575 Wandsworth Road is incredible and much of the interior is made up of reclaimed wood which Asalache cut out lovingly by hand. I think some of my sculptural work look quite furniture adjacent and perhaps that’s where it comes from!
Emma Sheehy has an MA Sculpture from Royal College of Art, London, BA Fine Art from Leeds University with a year at Dresden Academy of Fine Arts. Recent Exhibitions include Buried, Ohsh Projects at Thameside Gallery, London; Soft and Hard, The Art House, Wakefield; Woodworks, Lamb Gallery; Now Introducing, Studio West Gallery; 'Red in Tooth and Claw', Filet Space. Emma awards and residencies include City and Guilds Wood Fellowship, New Contemporaries 2023, and Prick and Stitch Residency at Standpoint Gallery.
