Sally Butcher Fine Art: <BR>Biography

Biography

SALLY BUTCHER Fine Artist

Born: 1979                                                                                    Lives and works: Birmingham,UK

Artist’s Statement:
My Art practice is inextricably linked with my theoretical work in Cultural Studies, embracing a more holistic view of the artist as practitioner, researcher and social commentator.

My work questions issues of identity and subjectivity in relation to women as they are mediated between art, culture and the viewer. I am particularly interested in formations of gender, power and the manipulation of desire in contemporary advertising and often appropriate such mass media imagery within my own work to explore its power of seductive distortion and its ability to structure our way of seeing through everyday consumption. Drawing on surrealist traits under a postmodernist guise, I aim to re-contextualise these images with elements outside the typical frame of representation, to challenge orthodox understandings and pose new visions within signifying practices.

Within my pieces I employ techniques of painting, drawing, and printmaking, at times combined with hand-sewn & collage elements. Inspired by popular advertising imagery and fashion campaigns, my work toys with ideological depictions of “feminine” beauty – models of sweet little girls, beautiful brides and pretty princesses – creating juxtapositions that reveal the inherent connotations often exploited in the original texts, to produce images which themselves are intentionally disturbingly beautiful.

Education:
2008-2009         PGCE Secondary in Art & Design – Level 7
                          Birmingham City University

2004-2005         MA in Cultural Studies - Distinction
                          University of Lancaster

1999-2003         BA (Hons) in Fine Art - Class I
                          University of Leeds

2001-2002         BA Studio Arts - GPA 4.0
                          University of California, Irvine, USA

1998-1999         BTEC Diploma in Foundation Studies in Art and Design - Distinction
                          Sutton Coldfield College of Further Education, Birmingham

Art Exhibitions/Prizes:
2010                  ‘Blacked Out’, 19-28 Aug, Arch 897, London Bridge
2010                  North Worcestershire Open, 6 May-13 June, Artix, Bromsgrove
2010                  Worcester Open, 24 April-26 June, PITT/WAW, Worcester
2009                  ‘Print Now’ competition (shortlisted), Bearspace Gallery, London Art Fair, Jan 2010
2009                  Arts Fest, 11-13 Sept, Birmingham
2008                  ‘Electric Eclectic’, 10-17 Feb, Custard Factory, Birmingham
2007                  ‘The Identity Parade’, 20-25 Feb, Custard Factory, Birmingham
2003                  ‘All Things Considered’, University of Leeds, Leeds
2002                  ‘Am I Famous Yet?’, University of California, Irvine, USA

Publications:
WRITINGS
2010                  “Skin Tight”, essay in ‘Haptic Visions, Tangible Images’ – photo book by Isil Onol,                                     PhD Thesis, University of Huddersfield
REVIEWS
2007                   Studio 11 - ‘New Birmingham Artists Showcase’, Community Channel Broadcast Oct 07
2003                   ArtScene - ‘All Things Considered’ review, Leeds Critical Arts Magazine

Collections:
2007-present      Art & Wine, 8 High Street, Warwick www.artandwine.co.uk

Workshops:
2010                  “Surrealist Juxtapositions – Making the Ordinary Extraordinary”
                           - Printmaking Elements workshop, Cadbury College, Birmingham
2010                  “Inside/Outside/Back to Front”
                           – Drawing & Textile workshop, Cadbury College, Birmingham
2010                  “Picturing mac’s Community” – Painting & Drawing workshop, mac, Birmingham
2009                   ‘Art & Enterprise’ workshops, Lordswood Boys’ School, Birmingham
                           – developing learning opportunities across Art, Technology & Business

Artist Memberships:
2009-present     Birmingham City University Academic Research Group - focusing on methods to create
                           greater cohesion between Art Education and Contemporary Art World
2009-present     Postgraduate Art Society - Bournville Centre for Visual Arts, Birmingham City University
2006-present     Moseley Creative Forum - Moseley, Birmingham

Email:  info@sallybutcher.co.uk