Kate Parsons BA (Hons) Sculpture, Chelsea School of Art, ATC Goldsmiths’ College (Postgraduate Art Teacher’s Certificate), MA Art & Design Education, De Montfort University and Practice-Based PhD Sculpture, University of Gloucestershire, and post-doctoral work with the Royal College of Art.

Kate’s work is committed to communicating the material properties and conceptual aspects of using organic and natural materials, influenced by her teaching and anthropological experiences in Eastern and Western Africa, Malaysia and Europe. Her work reflects an autobiographic approach through her life experiences, research and curiosity. Having been grounded in Semiotics, she works in symbolic ways bringing an amalgam of materials, and processes to the table to express her concepts. Making her work herself gives a greater understanding of how the processes affect the outcome and meaning in the work.

Last year, Kate was lead artist and co-curator for a major project called ‘One Island – Many Visions’ [@oneislandmanyvisions] which featured an exhibition of sculptural work by Royal Society of Sculptors in collaboration with the Portland Sculpture and Quarry Trust, symposium and community events. This work focused on an interdisciplinary approach to the arts and sciences through landscape and art addressing issues of climate change and sustainability with particular reference to the Jurassic coast.

Recent activity: ‘ONE ISLAND – MANY VISIONS’ 2025; Long Listed for the Aesthetica Art Prize, York Art Gallery exhibition 2024; ACEarts Gallery, Somerton, Somerset, ‘Casting Shadows’, curated by Nina Gronw-Lewis 2024.

Exhibitions: Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens/Gallery, Cornwall Wanderland, 2023, Curator: Martin Holman (@wanderland2023) ; Royal Society of Sculptors: Together We Rise, 2022, Chichester Cathedral, Curator: Jacquiline Creswell; Pragmata Collective, for online show, 2021; 10gm Challenge, 2020, Milwyn Foundry, London; RWA Open Sculpture Exhibition, 2019; Finalist in Arte Laguna Prize, Arsenale, Venice 2018; In House 2 exhibition, Pangolin Gallery, 2017.

FFI: www.kate-parsons.co.uk

Instagram: @Kate4492 /@oneislandmanyvisions

Publication: Featured in Fardon, R. & Onyejiako, J (2017), From an African Score , SOAS, London.

Selected collaborations and funders: ACE; AHRC; National Museum of Kenya; British Institute in Eastern Africa, Royal Commonwealth Society; University of Nigeria, Nsukka; National Art Gallery Abuja; Ruwenzori Sculpture Foundation & 32 Degrees East, Uganda; Uganda High Commission, London; Gallery Pangolin; Royal College of Art; October Gallery and SOAS, London