Every second year The Design & Crafts Council of Ireland (DCCI) invite Irish-based and Irish-born makers now abroad to apply for their online Portfolio. Selection is made by an international panel of experts, one of whom will also go on to curate a touring exhibition of the best of these, known as the Critical Selection. … More Surface Matters 2019-2020
Following the success of Colour & Form, Design-Nation’s selling showcase of glass artists at NCCD in late 2018, I was delighted to work with colleagues to create a follow-up for autumn 2019. I chose the theme of Pattern & Sequence as an aesthetically pleasing way to approach beautifully designed and well made craftwork, suitable for … More Pattern & Sequence for Design-Nation at NCCD
Decorex is a super glossy high end interiors trade fair, full of amazing furniture, lighting, wallpaper, fabric, staircases, sound systems, flooring, billiard tables, tiles, baths… you name it – it’s pretty much all there. Design-Nation (my “day job”) has the honour of being one of Decorex’s supported organisations so for the last six years I’ve … More Decorex for Design-Nation 2014-2019
In late 2018 I was in dialogue with Sophie Cain at Coin Street Community Builders who own and operate the Oxo Tower Wharf complex. Design-Nation had successfully shown in their Oxo Gallery in 2017 during London Craft Week and I’d hoped to bring a show back to that space for LCW19, but availability was proving … More London Craft Week 2019: The Future of Craft
This exhibition showcases some of the most innovative and inspiring glass artists from Design-Nation’s current portfolio and alumni, and was shown alongside National Museum Scotland’s Art of Glass touring show. Stuart Akroyd has created a special installation, and there are vessels and sculptural forms from: Amy Cushing, Bruce Marks, Catriona R MacKenzie, Clare L Wilson, … More Colour & Form: a selling exhibition for Design-Nation at NCCD
Nine designers and makers from the Design-Nation portfolio presented a high quality showcase of beautiful, adventurous and original design at designjunction (20-23 September 2018) in the raw interiors of The Bargehouse by the Oxo Tower. The theme, set by me as Design-Nation’s project manager and curator, was light: luminaries and shadows, glossy and textured … More “Green Light” for Design-Nation, at London Design Festival 2018
Artists Meet Their Makers: contemporary art reinterpreted by West Dean Tapestry Studio Crafts Study Centre 4 April – 2 July 2017 This exhibition is a celebration of the skill and imagination of West Dean Tapestry Studio’s Master Weavers, past and present. The studio was set up by West Dean’s founder Edward James, and has worked … More Artists Meet their Makers: a project for West Dean Tapestry Studio at Crafts Study Centre
Press coverage has been given by these writers and publications, to whom I give sincere thanks. Preview in the September-October 2015 issue of Crafts Preview in the September-October 2015 issue of Embroidery Review by Jessica Hemmings in the November-December 2015 issue of Crafts Profile by Anne Williams in the Winter 2015 issue of The Quilter … More Press Coverage for “Make it OK”
Image: Detail of “First One’s the Best”by Celia Pym. Photo by Douglas Atfield. The exhibition What Do I Need to Do to Make It OK? will be on show in two very different locations in March: first at The Spring Knitting & Stitching Show at London Olympia from 2-5 March; then at The National Centre … More Make It OK in London & at NCCD in March
The Crafts Study Centre in collaboration with the International Textile Research Centre for Textiles presented my exhibition “What Do I Need to Do to Make it OK? ” from 5 January to 5 March 2016. The exhibition included specially commissioned work using stitch and other media to explore damage and repair, disease and medicine, healing … More An Introduction to “Make It Ok” – Damage & Repair Symposium, UCA Farnham, 2 March 2016
Liz Cooper 