My name is Sarah Kudirka. I am an artist.
You know when you find something in your pocket that you picked up then forgot about? Familiar but unknown, a wee treasure, your fingers feel around its surfaces, its edges. Not until you pull it out of your pocket and see it in your hand do you know what it is. My art has always been about exploring the shape and edges of stuff, kind of like that.
“work that is beautiful, layered and thoughtful” – art critic, Jan Patience
My latest bowl:boat and shell-like paintings are about having compassion for people travelling across oceans in small boats. Ideas of belonging and belongings have been a recurrent theme in my work for years, thanks to visiting an archaeological site in East Africa during childhood. It left me with the notion that we are all outlived by things.
Nobody makes work like I do. And what I make is semi-abstract and with incised, scraped, oft-obliterated, colourful surfaces. I paint in oils on linen panels but also overlay colour onto original Polaroids and recycled instant snaps. My practice has been distinctively low-tech for over 30 years – I pull things apart and build them up again, iteratively. My ‘trashed canvases’ method is a noisy, fun, violent, extended process – that often takes years but – that finally yields surface of tactile softness and calm.
I also have high-level experience in creative consultancy, notably working with Arup engineers, architects and designers, on global public realm and building projects especially at concept and bid stage. I love to bring an artist’s brain to the design team.
My art sells internationally and is in corporate, public and private collections worldwide. Do please get in touch direct if you’d like to add my work to your collection; seek input to a project; discuss a commission or an exhibition; or just to say hello.
Born in England, 1968
Live & work in Scotland
Public Realm Art Consultancy with/for architects, developers, private clients
Visual Creativity training for building engineers, architects and designers
Founder of ‘The Penguin Pool’ ARUP events held in 15 cities worldwide
NB Until 2012 I was called Sarah K Davenport