profile
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:  a 21st century re-interpretation of the historical portrait bust, created by collaging found objects and materials in unexpected juxtaposition.   Plaster Busts
• The ‘Secret Society Banquet’ exhibitions – sculptural installations in often historic settings which provide a ‘live’ event for the plaster busts.  With the air of an opulent Baroque banquet, on closer inspection these extravagant dinner tables comprise nothing more than low –status objects dipped in white plaster. 
  • Exhibition venues have included Bergdorf Goodman, New York, The Holburne Museum,  Bath,  Paul Smith’s flagship London store, the Kasteel d’Ursel in Antwerp and Doddington Hall, Lincolnshire.
    See the exhibitions
  • Public sculpture commissions:  responding to place, architecture and history, Kathy Dalwood has created large scale plaster friezes for important buildings and environments in Britain. Again, the imagery – indented to the surface - is made from direct casting from real things.
    St Davids Two Shopping Centre. Cardiff  
    Cynon Valley Hospital, Wales
  • Three-dimensional design:  with a very sculptural approach, Kathy Dalwood has created some iconic collections of cast concrete and ceramic planters, tiles and friezes.   Made to commission, these are specified by private clients and high-profile contemporary architecture and design companies. 
    Planters      Tiles    Friezes
  • Retail collections and commercial collaborations:  throughout her career Kathy Dalwood’s sculpture and design work has been showcased in leading edge, contemporary boutiques and galleries internationally and commissioned for high profile events and advertising campaigns.
    Notable collaborations have been with design store Habitat who commissioned the ‘Set Squares’  collection of porcelain tiles and vases; Louis Vuitton where her plaster busts were the main event at a voluptuous art world dinner and in 2015 the busts took centre stage at a specially commissioned exhibition ‘Secret Society at Bergdorf Goodman’ at the luxury New York store.
  • Press and publications:  her work is regularly reviewed and featured in the international art and design press and influential blogs. It has also appeared in important architecture and design publications. 
    Press    Reviews
  • Films: three films have been made featuring the busts and Secret Society Banquets.  Find them here.
  • Blog:  the studio backstory offering a glimpse behind the scenes in her studio and an insight to the visual perspective which inspires her sculpture & design.
    Kathy Dalwood Studio Blog
  • Follow Kathy Dalwood on Instagram and Twitter
  • C.V. Follow the link for a PDF C.V.
     

  Future collaborations
  Kathy Dalwood is always interested to collaborate with creatives in other visual disciplines, for example architecture and fashion are important influences throughout her work.  She is always excited by the prospect of exploring new avenues and placing her work in realms which sculpture isn’t generally expected to inhabit.