ALISON LOCHHEAD BIOGRAPHY

Corgam, Bwlchllan, Lampeter, Ceredigion, Wales, UK. SA48 8QR.Tel: 01974 821358
Email - alisonlochhead358@gmail.com.
Website : www.alisonlochhead.co.uk

CURRICULUM VITAE

Alison is a member of Sculpture Cymru and 56 Group Wales and a Member of Royal British Society of Sculptors (MRBS).  

Alison Lochhead studied art and ceramics at Loughborough College of Art and Design and Wolverhampton Polytechnic from 1971 – 1975.  She studied tapestry weaving in Poland during 1975 – 1976. She has lived and worked in many countries, working with human rights and access to justice; especially for women. Her experiences are reflected in her art work. 

She recently has founded Corgam Iron Foundry with a fantastic team – iron will flow.

Alison Lochhead studied art and ceramics at Loughborough College of Art and Design and Wolverhampton Polytechnic from 1971 – 1975.  She became interested in working with fibre and she studied tapestry weaving in Poland during 1975 – 1976. For the next 15 years she explored weaving and fibre constructions and then paper and paper pulp. She returned to clay and earth based materials in 1990’s and works as a sculptor; using fire as a key part of her process; with kiln and foundry as basic tools. 

Alison has taught in adult education and has been involved in many art organisations, such as Artists and Designers in Wales in 1970’s and recently Gas Gallery in Aberystwyth.  She has lived and worked in many countries, working with human rights and access to justice; especially for women. Her experiences are reflected in her art work. 

The work made by Alison Lochhead reflects upon the memory of actions and experiences of people over time. The earth retains the marks made by humans and the memory of their presence and the injustices inflicted. Each person’s memory and experience is different and only parts remain, there is no ‘wholeness’, only fragments, but when different memories are pieced together they make a collective reflection and memory. 

Alison works with different materials, all integral from the earth and with their own strengths and reaction to heat and to each other; iron, clay, oxides, wood.  In the kiln alchemy takes place as the various materials are drawn together or reject each other, they are transformed.  The reaction of the molten iron onto the ceramic, wood and other materials is equally unknown. Memories are fragile and transitory; as is much of Alison’s work. 

Alison recently worked on ideas about the lead mines in the Cambrian Mountains, Wales. Using mainly clay, cast iron, wood and rocks taken from the Cambrian Mountain lead mines; the work explored the stories and marks made on the landscape and the memories from deep within the mines. Alison is working presently with the National Space Research Centre in Leicester as well as the Institute of Astronomy in Cambridge; with two other artists; exploring the enormity of space and the ‘curiosity and conversations’ which take place between us as the artists and the academics and researchers. Mind blowing and wonderful - goodness knows where this may lead!

She recently has founded Corgam Iron Foundry with a fantastic team – iron will flow.

She has exhibited internationally from 1977 to the present day, with 23 one-person shows and over 70 group exhibitions. Only the last few years have been selected for this CV.

Publications include:
Interpreting Ceramics ‘The Fragmented Figure’ (paper given at conference.)
Planet Magazine. The Welsh Internationalist. 2009 and 2014.
‘Revealment’ Book of poems by Dai Jenkins and Sculptures by Alison Lochhead.
‘Layered Memories of Conflict’

Alison has given numerous talks and workshops to a wide variety of audiences.

Selected One Woman Exhibitions:

  • • 2017‘Migration and Abandonment’. A sculpture installation. Llantarnam Grange. Cwmbran, Wales.
  • • 2016‘Layered Memories of Conflict’. Sculpture installation. MoMA Machynlleth. Wales.
  • • 2015 ‘Mine Memories’. Purbeck Mineral and Mining Museum, Purbeck, Dorset.
  • • 2013/14 ‘Mine Memories’ CARAD, Rhayader, Wales.  This exhibition was of work based on the lead mines of the Cambrian Mountains, Wales, exploring the histories, stories and memories and physical realities about and around the mines. Working with the visual impact mines have on the landscape, the juxtaposition of raw material, construction, exploitation and change. The mines are a mix of construction and raw material and the work exploited this juxtaposition; linking the memories of the lives involved in the mines. 
  • • 2013Oriel Q, Narberth, Wales                                            
  • • 2013Strawbale Gallery, Lampeter, Wales                      
  • • 2012Pontardawe Arts Centre                
  • • 2011Briggait Gallery, Glasgow      
  • • 2009MOMA y Tabernacl, Machynlleth
     

Recent GROUP EXHIBITIONS include:

2017

  • • ‘Creativity and Curiosity’. Conversations between Ione Parkin, Gillian McFarland and Alison lochhead and Astronomers from Universities Leicester and Cambridge at Cambridge Science Festival.

2016

  • • ‘Place’ Sculpture Cymru installations in the grounds of Dyffryn Gardens, Cardiff, Wales.
  • • Attic Gallery, Swansea.
  • • ‘Curious Travellers’. Creative responses to writings of C18th Thomas Pennant. Sycharth Gallery, Wrexham.
  • • 56 Group Wales. Merthyr Tydfil, Wales
  • • Oriel Q, Narberth. 10 Years of Iron
  • • Mid Wales Arts, Caersws, Wales. Sculpture Trail.

2015

  • • ‘Breaking Traditions’, Kidwelly Castle, Wales. Sculpture Cymru and Cadw.
  • • Mid Wales Arts, Caersws, Wales. Sculpture Trail.

2014

  • • ‘Maps and Makers’. Gas Gallery, Aberystwyth. This exhibition looked at maps and how they related to our lives and through working with historians, academics, cartographers, story tellers, printmakers, artists – to name a few – different interpretations of maps and their meanings was explored, culminating in an exhibition.
  • • 56 Group Wales. ‘Keep’, Caerphilly Castle, Caerphilly, Wales.
  • • ‘Journey - Response to Place’ Sculpture Cymru exhibition. Art Central, Barry, Wyeside Arts Centre, Builth Wells, Gas Gallery, Aberystwyth. Wales
  • • BIG ART. Shrewsbury.
  • • MOMA Machynlleth. 10th Anniversary exhibition Aberystwyth Printmakers.
  • • ‘ONE’ sculpture exhibition. Slad Valley House, Slad, Gloucestershire.
  • • De Milne Distillery Gallery, Wales
  • • Llantarnam Grange, Cwmbran, Wales. ’56:56 Group Wales’
  • • Llantarnam Grange, Cwmbran. South Wales Potters 50th anniversary touring exhibition. Touring.
  • • Iron Maidens. WCU Fine Art Museum, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC 28723.  Miami University, Florida USA.

2013

  • • Hereford. Aberystwyth Printmakers
  • • Inaugural exhibition. Gas Gallery/Oriel Nwy, Aberystwyth. Exhibition of work by Mary Lloyd Jones, Alison Lochhead and Grant Smaldon.
  • • 56:56 Group Wales - Newport Museum and Art Gallery, Wales and Pontypridd, Glamorgan University.
  • • ‘Female Frame IV’ - Theatre Clwyd, Mold, Wales
  • • Iron Maidens. Fine Art Museum @ the John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC 28723. TOURING VARIOUS VENUES IN USA

2012

  • • 56 Group Wales. BayArt, Cardiff and MOMA, Machynlleth
  • • Aberystwyth Printmakers Exhibition. Gallery at The Mid-Wales Art Centre, Caersws, Powys
  • • Strata Florida Project. Ceredigion, Wales.
  • • ‘Monstrous Women’ Cynon Valley Gallery and Museum.  Aberdare.
  • • ‘Iron Maidens’. Target Gallery at Saint John’s University in Collegeville, MN.USA

2011

  • • ARTAT -Rhosygilwen. Aberaeron. 
  • • ‘Iron Maidens’ Catherine Murphy Gallery. St. Paul, Minnesota. USA.
  • • The Lion Street Gallery.  Hay-on-Wye
  • • Y Lle Print. Eisteddfod. Wrexham
  • • ‘A4 Prints’ Aberystwyth Printmakers. Aberystwyth Arts Centre. Wales
  • • ‘A4 Prints’ Wharepuke, New Zealand
  • • ‘Female Frame III’ Wales Millennium Centre. Cardiff, Wales.
  • • ‘Iron Maidens’. Pontardawe Arts Centre. Wales.
  • • St Dogmaels Winter Exhibition. St. Dogmaels Gallery. Cardigan. Wales.
  • • Sculpture Cymru, Pontardawe Arts Centre, Wales

2010

  • • ‘Outside/Inside’ Kidwelly Industrial Museum. Wales. July – September 2010. 12 members of Sculpture Cymru
  • • ‘Iron Maidens’ at International Cast Iron Conference. Kidwelly. Wales. July 2010.
  • • Fire and Iron.  Leatherhead. Surrey.
  • • The Garden Gallery. Stockbridge. Hampshire
     

2009 

  • • ‘Melt Down’ Mission Gallery, Swansea. Sculptors working in cast iron.
  • • ‘Iron Maidens’ Women sculptors working in cast iron. Llantarnam Grange. Cwmbran. UK
  • • Sculpture Cymru @ Canfas. Oriel Canfas Gallery. Cardiff
  • • Work shown in West Wales Art Centre. Fishguard.
  • • The Gallery at Bevere. Worcester. South Wales Potters Group Exhibition
  • • St Dogmaels Gallery. St Dogmaels. Wales. 

2008

  • • ‘USA and UK cast iron sculptors’ Launch exhibition for the 10th International Iron Pour Conference. Henry Thomas Gallery, Carmarthen
  • • ‘Sculpture in the Garden’. Hergest Croft, Kington, Herefordshire

2007.

  • • ‘Hiraeth’ touring exhibition, Germany, London and Barry.
  • • ‘Feile Clai’ Farmleigh Gallery, Dublin and Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Wales.
  • • ‘Female Frame’ ArtShop Gallery, Abergavenny.

2006.

  • • ‘There’s Lovely’ exhibition of cast iron work. Henry Thomas Gallery, Carmarthen.
  • • ‘Ceramic Art from Wales and Brittany’  MOMA, Machynlleth, Wales
  • • ‘The Future Past’ touring, Heritage Park Gallery, Rhondda; 
  • • Ucheldre Centre, Holyhead, 
  • • Rhiannon Gallery, Tregaron; 
  • • Henry Thomas Gallery, Carmarthen.

2005

  • • ‘Artists at the Downs’  Malvern
  • • ‘Private Views’ Llwyn-y-groes.  Tregaron. Wales
  • • Peter’s Barn Gallery.  Midhurst.
  • • Paper given at ‘Fragmented Figure’ Conference. Cardiff. Wales.

2004

  • • ‘Sculpture Works’ Margam Park, Wales
  • • ‘Artswave’ West Wales Arts Centre, Fishguard.
  • • Peter’s Barn Gallery.  Midhurst.

2003

  • • ‘Private Views’.  Llwyn-y-groes.  Tregaron. Wales
  • • Peter’s Barn Gallery.  Midhurst.
  • • Fairyhill Hotel.  Gower.

2002.  

  • • Peter’s Barn Gallery.  Midhurst
  • • Celtic Exchanges. (Sculpture Cymru and Bretagne Sculpteurs) Touring exhibition in Wales. 
  • • Millfield School.  Summer Exhibition
  • • Fairyhill Hotel grounds.  Reynoldstone, Gower.  South Wales.
  • • 14th Salon of Contemporary Sculpture, Landivisiau, Brittany.  
  • • Court Room Gallery, Lampeter
  • • Arts West, Carmarthen
  • • Easter Festival, Tregaron, Ceredigion
     

Alison Lochhead. Statement

www.alisonlochhead.co.uk
The body of work made by Alison Lochhead reflects upon the memory of actions and experiences of people over time. The earth retains memory contained in the rocks, the buried walls, the bodies entombed and overtaken by nature, as in Pompeii, the shadows of death in Rwanda.  Each person’s memory and experience is different and only parts remain of each, there is no ‘wholeness’, only fragments, but when different memories are pieced together they make a collective reflection and memory. 

Alison works with different materials, all integral from the earth and with their own strengths and reaction to heat and to each other; iron, clay, rocks, oxides, wood.  In the kiln alchemy takes place as the various materials are drawn together or reject each other, they are transformed.  Some elements get lost and burn away, others fuse and create a different form.

Initial areas of interest include:
Space research discovers parts of a vast story, particles of a whole and with each new discovery layers are added onto previous ideas and discoveries. Heat, fusion, metals, minerals are integral to all and react to the other adding to an understanding of unknowns. Alison is particularly interested in exploring the textures, materials and geologies of the different bodies in space and their difference and similarity to earth. Process is the most important aspect for Alison and through conversations and discovering more about space, the work will develop.