Laura Ford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Laura Ford
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Ford in 2012
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| Born | 6 February 1961 Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
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| Nationality | British |
| Education | Bath Academy of Art; Chelsea School of Art |
| Known for | Sculpture |
| Spouse(s) | Andrew Sabin |
Laura Ford is a talented British sculptor born in Cardiff, Wales, on February 6, 1961. She is known for creating unique and imaginative sculptures. Her artworks often feature animals and dolls that look both sweet and a little bit spooky. Laura Ford is currently the president of the Royal Society of Sculptors. This means she helps lead an important group for sculptors.
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Laura Ford's Early Life
Laura Ford grew up in a family that worked with travelling fairgrounds. She went to Stonar School in Wiltshire. After that, she studied art at the Bath Academy of Art from 1978 to 1982. During this time, she also spent a term studying in New York City at the Cooper Union School of Art.
In 1982, she was invited to show her art in a special exhibition called New Contemporaries. This show was held at the Institute of Contemporary Arts. She then continued her art studies at the Chelsea School of Art from 1982 to 1983.
Laura Ford's Artworks
Laura Ford has lived and worked in London since 1982. She became known as part of the New British Sculpture movement. This was a group of artists who created exciting new sculptures in Britain. She showed her work in a big exhibition called The Sculpture Show in 1983. This show was at the Serpentine Gallery and The Hayward. She also took part in the British Art Show 5 in 2000.
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One art writer, Marcello Spinelli, described Ford's creations. He said her creatures are like real versions of fantasy ideas. He mentioned they can sometimes be a bit nightmarish. Her stuffed animals and dolls have a mix of bitter-sweet, threatening, and charming qualities. They remind people of childhood memories. They also seem to live in a world that feels strangely familiar to us.
Her sculptures are part of many public art collections. You can find her work in places like the Tate Gallery and the Victoria and Albert Museum. Her art is also in the Government Art Collection and the National Museums and Gallery of Wales. Other places include the Museum of Modern Art at the University of Iowa. The Arts Council of Great Britain and the Contemporary Art Society also own her pieces.
Laura Ford has shown her art in many exhibitions around the world. Some of her solo shows include Days of Judgement in Germany and the UK in 2012. She also had a show at the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in the USA in 2011. Other notable shows were Rag and Bone at Turner Contemporary in 2007. She also had Armour Boys in Edinburgh in 2006.
She has also participated in many group exhibitions. In 2011, she exhibited with Magdalena Abakanowicz in Germany. In 2005, she represented Wales at the Venice Biennale. In 2004, she was part of Into My World: Recent British Sculpture in the USA.
Teaching Art
Laura Ford also shared her knowledge with new artists. From 1983 to 1995, she taught at the Chelsea School of Art. She was also a Senior Lecturer at Middlesex University. She taught at most of the major art schools in London during this time.
Public Art Projects
Laura Ford has created many sculptures for public spaces. These are called public commissions. They are artworks that people can see and enjoy in different towns and cities.
Here are some of her public art projects:
- 2014: Southmeads Hospital, Bristol, UK
- 2012: University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- 2009: City of Stockholm, Sweden
- 2007: "Look Ahead", Short-Term Housing Project
- 2006: "Weeping Girls", Jupiter Artland
- 2002: Swiss Cottage Children's Library, London
- 1998: British High Commission, Ottawa, Canada
- 1997: Surrey Docks/Dockland Development Agency
- 1993: "Chiltern Sculpture Trail", Oxford
- 1989–90: West Bromwich Town Centre, UK
Gallery
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"Armour Boys", Houldsworth Gallery, 2006
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"Armour Boys" (installed at Sculpture in Pilane, Sweden), 2006
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"Rag and Bone", Stockholm, 1998
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"Rag and Bone", 2007
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Houldsworth Gallery, London, 2003
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"Moose", 1998
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"China Cats"
Personal Life
Laura Ford lives and works in Camden, London. Her husband, Andrew Sabin, is also a sculptor. They have three children together.
