NAME: Sarah
Tombs
PROFILE:
Sarah Tombs is a British based sculptor making sculpture to
exhibit in galleries and outdoor locations and be sited in public
spaces. Passionately believing that art should be part of our
everyday environment she has completed 10 major commissions nationally
and internationally. Recently, she has been developing new work
and exploring new methods of working and is currently developing
work for a solo exhibition in landscaped gardens.
Sarah was born in Bishop’s Stortford in 1961. She studied at Wimbledon
School of Art (1980-83) where she gained a 1st class degree in Fine art. MA
studies followed at Chelsea School of Art (1983-4) and she received a Henry
Moore Bursary to study at the Royal College of Art (1985-7).
Whilst still a student she produced a commissioned work for the
National Garden Festival ‘86 in Stoke on Trent, working
as an artist-in-residence at the steel works. From this experience
she decided to concentrate on public art, believing that artwork
should be seen in public spaces as well as in galleries. In 1987
she set up her studio in a railway arch in Brixton working on
commissions and since then has completed 10 major public commissions.
In 1995 she was appointed Sculpture Fellow at Keele University
and she changed direction to focus on exhibiting work rather
than producing commissions. This change in direction developed
from working on a major sculpture for the Hammersmith Hospital.
The research led to a desire to explore ideas further, achieved
by working on several sculptures over a period of time to form
a body of work. This experience developed into a need to explore
new processes and materials and subsequently led to several collaborations
and exhibitions with other departments at Keele University.
Sarah uses a range of materials to make sculpture. She has an
affinity with steel, a dynamic material worked by using heat
and welding to shape it. Exploiting its tensile strength, Sarah
is able to make structures that appear to defy gravity and the
process of construction allows for spontaneity creating a sense
of movement. Sarah also works in stone, bronze, stainless steel
and recently has been exploring the optical features of glass
and light.
To date Sarah has exhibited in 4 solo and 50 group exhibitions
mostly in Britain but also in Europe.
In 2005 she had a specially designed sculpture studio built in
a rural setting and is currently working full-time on her sculpture.
CONTACT:
sarah@sarahtombs.com
www.sarahtombs.com |