ABOUT
Artist Statement
Gabriella Rhodes is an artist and facilitator living and working on the Llŷn Peninsula, North Wales. Her practice is land-based, using local, foraged and reclaimed materials including clay, soil, stone and straw to create sculptural objects that sit somewhere between art and craft. Making is always preceded by research and fieldwork, often involving a detailed examination of geological maps and local industries, walking in the landscape and connecting with nearby ‘hole diggers’ like farmers and ground workers to divert the earth they have extracted.
The materials and processes used in her practice are rooted in the cob-building history of Wales and the wider UK but are reinterpreted in new ways. Alongside mirroring the geological past in their material composition, pieces often reference geomorphic features on the Earth’s surface through abstracted marks, curves and hollows. Through these methodologies, she intends to create work that embodies the deep histories of the ground beneath us and fosters a reciprocal existence with the more-than-human world.
Gabriella Rhodes is an artist and facilitator living and working on the Llŷn Peninsula, North Wales. Her practice is land-based, using local, foraged and reclaimed materials including clay, soil, stone and straw to create sculptural objects that sit somewhere between art and craft. Making is always preceded by research and fieldwork, often involving a detailed examination of geological maps and local industries, walking in the landscape and connecting with nearby ‘hole diggers’ like farmers and ground workers to divert the earth they have extracted.
The materials and processes used in her practice are rooted in the cob-building history of Wales and the wider UK but are reinterpreted in new ways. Alongside mirroring the geological past in their material composition, pieces often reference geomorphic features on the Earth’s surface through abstracted marks, curves and hollows. Through these methodologies, she intends to create work that embodies the deep histories of the ground beneath us and fosters a reciprocal existence with the more-than-human world.
Artist Bio
Gabriella Rhodes (b. 1993, Stoke-on-Trent) graduated from Manchester School of Art in 2018 with a BA (Hons) in Three-Dimensional Design. Since graduating, her practice has evolved to deepen her understanding of the intersection between art and ecology. She has exhibited nationally and has facilitated clay-based workshops for children and adults with arts organisations including The Good Life Society, British Ceramics Biennial, Manchester Craft and Design Centre and Plas Glyn y Weddw. She is the recipient of grants and residencies with Guldagergaad Ceramic Research Centre (Denmark), A-B Projects (Los Angeles) and recently received funding from the Arts Council of Wales to attend the Natural Building Festival in Estonia to develop her technical understanding of working with clay plasters and natural finishes and to participate in the wider discourse around ecological practices and the principles of circular economies.
Gabriella Rhodes (b. 1993, Stoke-on-Trent) graduated from Manchester School of Art in 2018 with a BA (Hons) in Three-Dimensional Design. Since graduating, her practice has evolved to deepen her understanding of the intersection between art and ecology. She has exhibited nationally and has facilitated clay-based workshops for children and adults with arts organisations including The Good Life Society, British Ceramics Biennial, Manchester Craft and Design Centre and Plas Glyn y Weddw. She is the recipient of grants and residencies with Guldagergaad Ceramic Research Centre (Denmark), A-B Projects (Los Angeles) and recently received funding from the Arts Council of Wales to attend the Natural Building Festival in Estonia to develop her technical understanding of working with clay plasters and natural finishes and to participate in the wider discourse around ecological practices and the principles of circular economies.
CV
EDUCATION
2023 Ochre Practices with Heidi Gustafson, Online
2023 Artistry in Clay and Lime, West Wales
2023 Natural Building Festival, Estonia
2022 Clay Plastering, School of Natural Building, Anglesey
2020 Level 3 Award in Education and Training, National Open College Network
2015-2018, BA Three-Dimensional Design, Manchester Metropolitan University
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS / RESIDENCIES
2023 (upcoming) Agored/Open 2023, Galeri Caernarfon, Caernarfon
2023 (upcoming) Artistiaid Ifainc Cymru (Young Welsh Artists), MOMA Machynlleth
2023 Nunnery Gallery, Wondering People, London
2023 Summer Exhibition, Plas Glyn y Weddw, Pwllheli
2023 Pererindod, Oriel Carn, Caernarfon
2023 Benywaidd, Oriel Carn, Caernarfon
2022/23 Winter Exhibition, Thrown Gallery, London
2020 Breaking Ground, part of Crafting Futures, British Ceramics Biennial and British Council, Stoke-on-Trent
2020 Clay in Residence, AIR Gallery, Manchester
2018 Project Network, Guldagergaad Ceramic Research Centre, Denmark
SELECTED COMMISSIONS / WORKSHOPS
2023 (upcoming) Commission – A Symbiotic Clay Environment: a journey through the meaning-making possibilities with Dena Bagi MA, AFHEA, Aalto University, Finland
2023 Sculptural Earth Bowls, Plas Glyn Y Weddw, Llanbedrog
2023 An Introduction to Smoke Firing Workshop, The Good Life Society, Wales
2023 Sculptural Earth Bowls Workshop, Ground Workshops, Stoke-on-Trent
2021 Commission – Clarification through Clay: Visualising Meaning-Making, Dena Bagi MA, AFHEA and The University of Sunderland
2020 Stoke-on-Trent Open Weekend Workshop, British Ceramics Biennial, Stoke-on-Trent
2020 In-between Marks Workshop, AIR Gallery, Manchester
2019 Commission - The Clay Quarter, British Ceramics Biennial 2019, Stoke-on-Trent
SELECTED AWARDS / BURSARIES
2023 International Opportunities Fund, Arts Council of Wales
2023 New Wave Scholarship, A-B Projects, Los Angeles
2021 & 2020 Freelancer Fund, Cyngor Gwynedd Council, Wales Cultural Recovery Fund
2018 Solo Exhibition Award, AIR Gallery, Manchester
2018 Graduate Award, Manchester Craft and Design Centre
PRESS
2023 Country Living, February Issue
2022 Red Magazine, December Issue
PDF Version
EDUCATION
2023 Ochre Practices with Heidi Gustafson, Online
2023 Artistry in Clay and Lime, West Wales
2023 Natural Building Festival, Estonia
2022 Clay Plastering, School of Natural Building, Anglesey
2020 Level 3 Award in Education and Training, National Open College Network
2015-2018, BA Three-Dimensional Design, Manchester Metropolitan University
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS / RESIDENCIES
2023 (upcoming) Agored/Open 2023, Galeri Caernarfon, Caernarfon
2023 (upcoming) Artistiaid Ifainc Cymru (Young Welsh Artists), MOMA Machynlleth
2023 Nunnery Gallery, Wondering People, London
2023 Summer Exhibition, Plas Glyn y Weddw, Pwllheli
2023 Pererindod, Oriel Carn, Caernarfon
2023 Benywaidd, Oriel Carn, Caernarfon
2022/23 Winter Exhibition, Thrown Gallery, London
2020 Breaking Ground, part of Crafting Futures, British Ceramics Biennial and British Council, Stoke-on-Trent
2020 Clay in Residence, AIR Gallery, Manchester
2018 Project Network, Guldagergaad Ceramic Research Centre, Denmark
SELECTED COMMISSIONS / WORKSHOPS
2023 (upcoming) Commission – A Symbiotic Clay Environment: a journey through the meaning-making possibilities with Dena Bagi MA, AFHEA, Aalto University, Finland
2023 Sculptural Earth Bowls, Plas Glyn Y Weddw, Llanbedrog
2023 An Introduction to Smoke Firing Workshop, The Good Life Society, Wales
2023 Sculptural Earth Bowls Workshop, Ground Workshops, Stoke-on-Trent
2021 Commission – Clarification through Clay: Visualising Meaning-Making, Dena Bagi MA, AFHEA and The University of Sunderland
2020 Stoke-on-Trent Open Weekend Workshop, British Ceramics Biennial, Stoke-on-Trent
2020 In-between Marks Workshop, AIR Gallery, Manchester
2019 Commission - The Clay Quarter, British Ceramics Biennial 2019, Stoke-on-Trent
SELECTED AWARDS / BURSARIES
2023 International Opportunities Fund, Arts Council of Wales
2023 New Wave Scholarship, A-B Projects, Los Angeles
2021 & 2020 Freelancer Fund, Cyngor Gwynedd Council, Wales Cultural Recovery Fund
2018 Solo Exhibition Award, AIR Gallery, Manchester
2018 Graduate Award, Manchester Craft and Design Centre
PRESS
2023 Country Living, February Issue
2022 Red Magazine, December Issue
PDF Version
Upcoming Exhibitions
02/12/23 - 27/01/24 Agored/Open 2023, Galeri Caernarfon, Wales
18/11/23 - 03/02/24.Artistiaid Ifainc Cymru (Young Welsh Artists), MOMA Machynlleth, Wales
02/12/23 - 27/01/24 Agored/Open 2023, Galeri Caernarfon, Wales
18/11/23 - 03/02/24.Artistiaid Ifainc Cymru (Young Welsh Artists), MOMA Machynlleth, Wales
Purchasing a Piece / Commissions
Pieces are available to purchase at various points throughout the year, once a collection of work is finished. Sign up for the newsletter to hear about this first or alternatively, email to enquire about currently available works.
Commissions are currently open. Find out more and make an enquiry.
Pieces are available to purchase at various points throughout the year, once a collection of work is finished. Sign up for the newsletter to hear about this first or alternatively, email to enquire about currently available works.
Commissions are currently open. Find out more and make an enquiry.