Kerry Lemon British
Kerry Lemon creates site-specific artworks in a diverse range of materials. Her research-led practice is responsive to local ecologies and aims to connect audiences to the natural world to help them examine their own role within contemporary society.
Her work is interactive. It invites her audiences to rest, and to play. It encourages us to question how we navigate our public spaces, and elevates them through cultural placemaking. Kerry’s imaginative world wavers in and out of focus as visitors hurry past, or stop and pause for a moment to reflect.
Kerry is motivated by collaborating with others and is a certified B Corporation committed to a sustainable practice. Her commitment to regenerative sustainability often sees the integration of habitats within the works. Her practice ranges from monumental sculpture, to painting, to film, photography and performance. The focus on Womxn and affinity with local flora through this lens is an important and recurrent thread of her practice.
Education
University of Reading: B.A. Fine Art, Reading 2003
University of Leicester: M.A. Museum Studies, Leicester 2007
ARU Cambridge: Post Grad Cert Book Illustration, Cambridge 2008
Turps Art School: Turps Off Site Programme Painting, 2021
Exhibitions
Koop, Brighton 2023
Cure3, Bonhams, London 2023
Paul Smith, Albemarle Street London 2022
Fortnum & Mason, ‘The Art of the Exceptional’ 2022
Mange Tout, 'Fragments', Brighton 2022
Chauvet Arts, 'Balance, Order & Chaos', Nashville USA 2021
Louisa Guinness Gallery, Mayfair London 2020
Brighton Fishing Museum 2019
David Linley, 'Wild Formation', London 2019
Coutts Bank, London 2018
Galerie Doux Dimanche, Tokyo, Japan 2013
Publications
Author - Fearless Drawing: Illustrated Adventures for Overcoming Artistic Adversity
Residency
Xenia Residency, Hampshire, 2024
Ruwenzori Sculpture Foundation, Uganda, 2024
Fabrica Gallery, Making Space Residency, Brighton, 2023
Ventnor Botanic Gardens, Isle of Wight, 2023
Kelling Designs, Norfolk, 2019
Ideas Island, Sole use of private Swedish island, 2017
Royal Holloway University, Plant Science, 2014-16
Cove Park, Scotland, 2016
Nordic Watercolour Museum, Nordiska Akvarellmuseet, 2014
Cornerstone Arts Centre, Oxfordshire, 2010
Awards
Queen Elizabeth Scholar 2007-Present
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Crying Of The Neck
Kerry Lemon 16 Nov 2024Note: The live performance contains nudity ; explores challenging themes and will be filmed Discover Kerry Lemon's interactive performance - Crying Of The Neck,...Read more -
COMMUNION
Kerry Lemon 7 Sep 2024Kerry Lemon's work, particularly through her alter-ego MRS ROE, explores themes of femininity, autonomy, and the societal implications surrounding female sexuality and reproduction. Through her art, Lemon critiques patriarchal structures and reclaims indigenous plant knowledge, envisioning a future that embraces resilience and interconnectedness with the natural world. Her ongoing MRS ROE project serves as a platform to address historical and cultural narratives, inviting audiences to engage with challenging themes related to women's rights and environmental awareness.Read more -
Whisper Your Loud Roots
Kerry Lemon 8 Jun 2024Historically, Tansy plants have been revered for their medicinal properties, particularly in the realm of women's health, evoking notions of care, healing, and the nurturing role of women. The robust nature of Tansy plants symbolizes strength and endurance, contrasting with the delicate sweetness of icing sugar. This juxtaposition underscores the complex balance between the outward gentleness associated with femininity and the inner strength required to uphold it. The use of white icing sugar adds further depth, representing both the sweetness traditionally linked to femininity and the societal pressures to suppress desires. Painting on the body serves as a powerful act of personal and cultural expression, transforming the skin into a canvas where layers of meaning are meticulously applied. This act of inscription becomes particularly poignant when viewed in the context of Ruup & Form's exhibition "Porcelain Dreams," where the smooth, white surface of icing sugar evokes the delicate beauty of porcelain. This parallel between sugar and porcelain highlights the constructed ideals of femininity, often associated with purity and social status. Through Lemon's performance, the act of painting Tansy plants with sugary paste serves as a metaphor for the intricate and sometimes fragile beauty imposed by societal standards. It challenges viewers to reflect on the transient nature of beauty and the enduring strength required to navigate societal norms. Join us for this thought-provoking experience during our exhibition and delve into the profound exploration of femininity and resilience.Read more