On the occasion of her 65th birthday, we hosted an artist talk with sculptor Nicola Hicks MBE FRSS whose highly acclaimed exhibition ‘Dressed for the Woods’ was on view in our tithe barn.
Nicola is one of the most significant British sculptors of the 21st century. Her work is introspective and hugely personal, often referencing specific moments or stories drawn from her own life; however, her subject matter is eminently relatable. Her technically brilliant, largely anthropomorphic sculptures touch upon her experiences of being a woman, motherhood, struggles with mental health (encountered both first- and second-hand), as well as the personal and collective trauma caused by conflict, greed and environmental and societal destruction. Although her themes could be perceived as somewhat bleak, Hicks’ work nevertheless emanates humour and is part of a rich tradition of social commentary in British art stretching back to William Hogarth’s Gin Lane. It is a celebration of humanity – its glories and its flaws – recognising the darkness that exists in the world and expressing it in sculptures of immense beauty.
The works on show date from the 1990s to the present and include a new series created especially for the exhibition.
