the ceramics in this installation were made on a residency in 2024, at Ogden Water Nature Reserve , Halifax, funded by Everybody Arts and Culturedale. I spent time immersed in the woodland around the reservoir, digging up wild clay , uncovering pathogenic rhizomorphs , exploring hidden, secret spaces and species. Three sets of ceramics came … Read more
These images capture an experimental, performative collaboration between myself and Explorist, where we wrapped his body with pieces of sculpture, previously used in several of my installations. These twisted pieces are made from deconstructed mens’ business suits, stuffed and wired to create a web or network. The perfomative piece takes the suit , with all its … Read more
Vivid Dreaming was made following an invitation to be part of Omnipotence of Dream, a group exhibition at Salford Museum & Art Gallery, where artists were invited to respond to surrealist works of art in the gallery’s collection, to mark the centenary of Andre Bretons Manifesto of Surrealism, 1924 . I chose to work from … Read more
A series of plaster casts of the inside of mens’ business suit pockets. These previously never been seen spaces are revealed showing every stitch , crease, corner of fluff , texture of fabric. Pockets are first stitched together with other suit fabric to make the mould and create abnormally long, extended, voluminous pieces. The ink … Read more
This piece was installed at Huddersfield Art Gallery , as part of the exhibition “Borrow Pit” , with the Yorkshire Sculptors Group, 2023. size variable , here 2.5m x 2m x 1mmens business suits, wire, stuffing, mascara, bra wire, glazed ceramic, thread, safetey pins Borrow pit is a building term referring to a hole, pit … Read more
Shebang is my largest cast form to date, the mould was created using 20 bras from different women, stitched together. The tiny “flower bud” forms are partially glazed ceramic – the clay was rolled into bras to capture the texture. Through the casting process, some parts of the sculpture that are less supported have come … Read more
Knives Out is a piece that confronts male violence against women and girls. The central head-like form has been constructed with several bras stitched together, then poured with plaster dyed black. This form bristles with knife-like protrusions, made by rolling clay into bras, which aggressively stick out – their sharp edges shouting danger – dont … Read more
“Dark Cloud” is a hanging ceramic piece , constructed with around 400 black, glazed “fingerprints” : tiny pieces of clay that I have repeatedly pinched into distorted representations of the human mark. It was shown at The Fresh Air Sculpture Show, 2022. glazed stoneware ceramic, wireapprox 80 x 70 x 70 cmprice on request
The Tooth and Claw Collection is an ongoing series of casts of bras , made in hard wearing plaster of paris, dyed black. Each piecehas a slightly sinister or dangerous feel: a weapon, missile head or giant claw or tooth from an archaeological dig. I wanted there to be a hint of history. Each bra … Read more
“Squeezed” is a bunch of glazed ceramic forms, each has been created by squeezing clay aggressively in my fist, making a mark and capturing a level of emotion. Resembling a bunch of fruit , on closer inspection they look visceral , like intestines, the glazes slippery and pastel. installed at R.H.S. Harlow carr, Cannon Hall … Read more
Pernicious is a collection of 30 glazed ceramic pieces , installed in the ground using steel rods. Each piece is constructed with hundreds of “fingerprints”- vigorously squeezed pieces of clay. Varying sizes and complexity. Pernicious has been installed in R.H.S. Harlow Carr, Wentworth Castle Gardens and most recently at the Fresh Air Sculpture Show , … Read more
Mens’ business suit pockets are cast in plaster of paris. The hidden, secretive form of the inside of the pocket is revealed and exposed. Ink has bled and splashed, shreds of embedded material and clinging threads. The larger ones are created by sewing more suit material to the pocket mould, to enlarge, manipulate and extend … Read more
The Bra Rifle Range is an ongoing series of paint-print-drawings. Photos of bras sent to me during the coronavirus lockdown are layered, drawn and painted. Please send any photos of bras, vests, sports bras, old/new/knackered- not being worn please! to sally@sallybarker.org to become part of the Bra Rifle Range- a collection of liberated bras during … Read more
Ongoing sculpture and prints using unwanted bras . Working on ideas about ageing and change in women and their bodies, using the bra to represent transformation, real or desired, whether through age, pregnancy , breast feeding, surgery etc. Different bras are placed together inn both prints and casting with plaster to suggest this transformation between … Read more
This body of work across sculpture , installation, video and performance, looks at gender, power and identity, through my interference with and manipulation of mens’ business suits. The iconic status of the suits and its default attachment to power, is subverted through different forms of deconstruction: cutting and shredding with a scalpel, fraying, picking apart, … Read more