Hothouse 2020 alumna Francisca Onumah set up her studio within the community of Yorkshire Artspace, Sheffield. It is from here she has developed her collection of sculptural objects and contemporary jewellery which have become a part of both public and private collections.
Drawn to finding character and a human-like semblance in inanimate objects, the Ghanaian born silversmith creates ambiguous vessels and jewellery that reflect vulnerabilities and strengths through their anthropomorphic forms. Working from sheet metal, she obsessively layers different mark making techniques, hammering repeated marks as well as folding and impressing patterns onto the surface of the metal. Her approach to mark making displays a distinct tactile signature that mimics other materials such as leather, textiles and wood. The figurative objects are finished with dark oxidised and subdued silver finishes and grouped together as if in quiet conversations.
Bluecoat Display Centre is partnering with the Walker Art Gallery on ‘Past Present Future: Celebrating Craft’ – a series of curated, selling displays highlighting the diverse, emerging and established makers working in studios across the North West. From January – May 2022, we will present displays across our venues featuring work by makers including Jacob Chan, Halima Cassell, Stephen Dixon, David & Margaret Frith, Hugh Miller, Francisca Onumah, Attila Olah, Verity Pulford, Emma Rodgers, and Paul Scott.