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This major exhibition by Halima Cassell celebrates her work as one of Britain's leading contemporary sculptors. Bringing together objects from the artist's own collection - a number of which are rarely on public display - with new work created for the exhibition, this is the first solo exhibition by a contemporary artist to be shown at Watts Gallery.
The exhibition on show in the Historic Galleries will explore Cassell's evolving practice over the past 25 years and will include a piece specially commissioned by the Watts Gallery, made with local Compton clay. The artwork takes inspiration from the work of both G F and Mary Watts and is the first acquisition by a living artist to join the Watts Gallery Trust collection. Halima Cassell MBE (b.1975-) was born in Kashmir, Pakistan, grew up in Lancashire and now lives in Shropshire. A fusion of cultural environments has shaped her identity and underpins her practice. Her work explores what connects us rather than what divides us, finding expression for this in complex surface patterns created through deep carving into unglazed ceramic, marble, wood and more.
Introduced recently to Watts Gallery - Artists' Village, Cassell is drawn to the practice of the founding artists, in particular to the life and career of Mary Watts. Cassell identifies much of her own practice with Mary’s: in her choice to work in clay, her choice to create intricate patterns inspired by nature, her shared interest in diverse cultural influences that characterise both their work and in an enduring fascination with architecture which, for Mary Watts, culminated in her creation of Watts Chapel (1895-1898) – the extraordinary Arts & Crafts mortuary chapel, now Grade I listed, conceived as a community arts project and built using Compton clay.
'It was truly astonishing. I have always been interested in religious buildings, but this was the first time I felt an overwhelming sense of femininity and warmth. Mary Watts’s use of pattern, craftsmanship and inclusion of symbolism from different cultures gives the building an incredible sense of harmony.' - Halima Cassell on Watts Cemetery Chapel - World of Interiors
'It was truly astonishing. I have always been interested in religious buildings, but this was the first time I felt an overwhelming sense of femininity and warmth. Mary Watts’s use of pattern, craftsmanship and inclusion of symbolism from different cultures gives the building an incredible sense of harmony.'
- Halima Cassell on Watts Cemetery Chapel - World of Interiors
Halima Cassell MBE FRSS (b.1975) is a British sculptor working in many materials. Born in Pakistan, brought up in Lancashire and now living in Shropshire, Cassell’s broad, multi-cultural background is tangibly present in her work.
Cassell studied 3D Design at the University of Central Lancashire and has subsequently furthered her practice through residencies in, amongst others, Japan (2007), Pakistan (2009) and Pietrasanta, Italy having been awarded the Brian Mercer Stone Carving Scholarship. She won the Sovereign Asian Art Prize in 2018 and in 2021 Halima Cassell was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the Queen’s 2021 New Year Honours list, for her services to art.
Her work is in many major public collections, including the V&A, Manchester Art Gallery, Leeds Museum & Art Gallery, Hepworth Wakefield, Fitzwilliam Museum, and Walker Art Gallery and public commissions include Light Catcher for the Forest of Bowland AONB and The Flower Dome for Rampton Secure Hospital.
Exhibitions include The Discerning Eye (2008), Blackwell (2012), Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens (2016), Monumental at Yale Centre, New Haven, USA (2017), Manchester Art Gallery (2019), Glyndebourne (2021). Cassell’s work has been selected for several Summer Exhibitions at the Royal Academy and she is regularly included in Collect, the Crafts Council international fair.
For further information: halimacassell.com
From the newly released catalogue Halima Cassell 25 celebrating Halima's 25 year career to original pieces, discover the exhibition range in the Shop and online.