‘Shakespeare Close’ is a participatory public sculpture commission, created using plywood and emulsion, and named after the place that inspired it. The commission was produced as part of the Making Matters project, in the lead up to the 2019 Yorkshire Sculpture International, which celebrates the international sculpture collections of Leeds Art Gallery, Henry Moore Institute, The Hepworth Wakefield, and Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

The artwork was designed through a series of workshops with participants at Burmantofts Senior Action who explored different sculptural techniques alongside visiting the collections at Sculpture Triangle venues. The project enabled me to develop my practice in co-production and to create my first public sculpture. 

The sculpture alludes to the histories and architecture of the local area, including Burtons Textile Factory, Burmantofts Pottery, St Agnes’ Church, and Beckett St Cemetery. The work also references the 1960s high rise tower blocks which are a feature of the area, replacing the older terraced houses.

More info about the project here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCOHhtgSA10
https://ahc.leeds.ac.uk/fine-art/news/article/1257/phd-alumna-works-with-burmantofts-senior-action-to-create-a-sculpture-in-leeds

Photo credit: Tomasz Fraczek