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Christy
Symington biography
Download complete 2024 CV [PDF file]
Click headings for links:
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Acme Studio, Deptford, London SE8 [2007-now] |
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Royal Society of Sculptors, London
Member MRBS [2002-now]
Board Member [2003-2007] |
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King's College London, Medical Humanities
Lecturer in Art: Art of Anatomy and Surgery [2020] |
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The Art Academy, London
Head of Sculpture [2013-2017]
Head of Sculpture Short Courses [2013-2018]
Senior Tutor [2002-now]
Head of Professional Development [2005-2008]
Head of Part Time Students [2004-2007]
Resident artist [2002-2007] |
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Greenwich Community College, London
Part Time Tutor - Drawing, Pastels, Painting [2005-2018] |
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Lewisham College, London [part time 2004-2006]
Post Graduate Certificate in Education certified by Canterbury Christ Church University |
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Byam Shaw School of Art [Central Saint Martins], University of the Arts, London
MA in Fine Art [2001-2002]
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Vermont Studio Center, USA
Residency fellowship [2001] |
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New York Studio School, USA
Graduated Merit Award for Sculpture [1997-2001]
Scholarships [1998-2000]
Exchange programme to Slade School, London [2000]
View video
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New York Academy of Art, USA
Continuing education [1997] |
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Les Ateliers Beaux-Arts, Glaciere, Paris |
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Les Ateliers Beaux-Arts, Montparnasse, Paris |
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Les Ateliers Beaux-Arts de la ville de Paris
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Ecole Superieure des Arts Appliques Duperre, Paris |
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Kensington and
Chelsea Art College, London |
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Website Food
".......Christy's work has evolved. She
is now making original and powerful sculpture. Symington is unafraid
to experiment and to explore new possibilities. She has produced
a substantial body of work. While the work is varied it is linked
together by a concern for and an interest in the natural world. At
it's core her work is about the eternal cycle of life and
death, growth and decay.....she has struggled to find herself, and
its a joy to see the gradual emergence of the rich potential she
possesses...."
Garth Evans, Sculptor
".........Christy Symington's work has
changed considerably since I first experienced it, it has been through
several dialogues, over the years her thoughtfulness and integrity
to sculpture has shone through. She continually tries to push the
limits in the work yet sometimes holds back, only to finally push
the work further at the end. She is developing her visions and unique
set of questions. She needs to be taken seriously, sometimes her
easy going manner is deceptive. Ultimately she is a very serious
artist......"
Graham Nickson, Dean of the New York Studio School / Painter top
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".........Christy Symington has produced a huge
body of work. She has worked diligently to acquire the needed skills
to involve herself with the language of sculpture. Symington has
exhibited her work in a number of exhibitions in New York City. As
a very active and intelligent member of the artistic community Christy
Symington has demonstrated her commitment to sculpture and the visual
arts. In short she distinguishes herself by her commitment and articulate
sculpture....."
Ed Smith, Guggenheim
Fellow in Drawing and Sculpture, Bard College
".....The most complete and original work was
a relatively large cast plaster, amorphous shapes by Christy Symington.
It was a surprise to see that Symington had, more or less, left
the figure behind in this show. The shapes were more opened and self-assured.
The process a highly tactile one. I got a sensibility that was
challenging
traditional modes of formal expression, moving away from the rigidity
of academic expectation, and into an exploratory aesthetic distance;
yet the presence of these forms was evident along with the absence....."
Robert C. Morgan, Author and Critic; "The End of The Art World"
"Her prowess as a gifted, disciplined and mature
sculptor and draughtsman are a refreshing alternative in a world
where two-dimensionality or cyberspace are trendier. Agile in her
medium, always in search of new texts, textures; the essence of form
or creation which she bathes or leaves undressed. Her work is audacious,
exploratory and quite sublime at times......"
JA VAZQUEZ, Independent
Curator; Manners Fine Arts
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Links
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Royal
British Society of Sculptors, London
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International Slavery Museum, National Museums Liverpool
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The Art Academy, London
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Marist College Art Gallery, New York, USA
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Black Cultural Archives |
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Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation |
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Deptford X |
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David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation
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Tiger Time
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Vermont Studio Center,
US
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New York Studio School,
New York
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Gihon River Collective
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Golden Fleece Films
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Uncooked Culture
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The Threadneedle Prize
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Angel Orensanz Foundation,
New York
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Ranthambore Foundation
Tigers, India
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Taller Boricua, New York
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David McKee Gallery,
New York
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Byam Shaw School of Art [Central Saint Martins], University of the Arts, London
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The Society of Portrait
Sculptors, London
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Brooklyn Working Artists Coalition
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The Slade School of Fine
Art, London
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The National Arts Club,
New York
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Pangolin London
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Further
Information
Click for details: Exhibitions | Website
Food | Links
Christy Symington MRBS is a London based sculptor. She is a Member of the Royal British Society of Sculptors (Council Member 2003-2007) and Head of Sculpture and Senior Tutor at The Art Academy London. From 1996 Christy studied traditional figure sculpture and life drawing in Paris at Les Ateliers Beaux-Arts Montparnasse and Glaciere, Ecole Superieure des Arts Appliques Duperre and L'ecole Nationale Superieure des Beaux-Arts and previously at Kensington and Chelsea College, London. Following this she spent 4 years in New York and graduated in 2001 from the New York Studio School with Merit Award for Sculpture, during which she was the selected sculpture student for the exchange programme to the Slade School of Art, London. Returning to London she took her MA in Fine Art at Byam Shaw [now Central St Martins], University of the Arts London. She has a PGCE degree (Postgraduate Certificate in Education) from Lewisham College certified by Canterbury Christ Church University and teaches and mentors in several UK art colleges and schools.
Christy Symington’s sculptures are in the permanent collections of Parliamentary Art Collection UK, Royal Museums Greenwich, International Slavery Museum in Liverpool and 911 Memorial & Museum, NYC, USA.
Permanent Art Collections
| 2024 |
9/11 Memorial & Museum, NYC, New York, USA |
| 2019 |
Parliamentary Art Collection, Houses of Parliament, London, UK |
| 2018 |
Royal Museums Greenwich, London, UK |
| 2017 |
International Slavery Museum, Liverpool, UK |
| 2003-now |
Private collections London / New York / Paris, France |
| 2001 |
The Great American Women’s Sculpture Park, Woodrock, New York, USA |
| 2001 |
Angel Orensanz Foundation Center for the Arts, NYC, USA |
Selected and Invited Exhibitions
| 2024 |
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London Museum Docklands ‘30th African Remembrance Day’ Launch Ceremony, West India Quay, London |
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Royal Society of Sculptors ‘On The Edge 2.0’, Ovada Space, Oxford, UK |
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 Permanent Collection: 9/11 Memorial & Museum ‘Remembrance 9/11’ sculpture (3 views), NYC, USA
www.911memorial.org
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| 2023 |
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The London Group Open 2023 Copeland Gallery, Peckham, London |
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Queen’s House Royal Museums Greenwich ‘Equiano Sculpture Talk’, Anglo-Finnish/Danish Societies, London |
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 ‘EQUIANO’s Journey’ Farewell Car Sculpture Tour, through London via Westminster/Greenwich/Deptford, UK
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Cole’s Gallery ‘Blake’, Central Square, Leeds |
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 Royal Society of Sculptors Members ‘Summer Show’, Guest selector & curator Edward Bulmer
‘EQUIANO Shekere’ ceramic sculpture
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Mall Galleries ‘Wildlife Artist of the Year Finalist 2023’ David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation |
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Art Brut Biennale ‘One Bare Foot Square’, curated by Uncooked Culture, Hengelo, Netherlands |
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The House of Smalls ‘In Memory Of’, Dollhouse exhibition, curated by Amy Oliver |
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 Equiano Society ‘Celebrating Sancho & Equiano’ - Zoom Speaker (sculptor) with Emeritus Professor Vincent Carretta, Paterson Joseph (actor), Richard Bourne, Marcia Bennett-Male and Arthur Torrington 6 April 2023
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 Royal Society of Sculptors ‘On The Edge’ London members group exhibition with two members in Ukraine - Boris Krylov and Oles Sydoruk, Espacio gallery, London. Image ‘Tiger Corridor’
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 Sculpture for International Women’s Day 2023 – Malvina Hoffman, sculptor (1885-1966)
LinkedIn Post with images
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Royal Museums Greenwich ‘The Queen’s House Souvenir Guide’, Greenwich, London |
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The House of Smalls ‘Walk The Line’, Dollhouse exhibition, Chipping Camden, curated by Amy Oliver |
| 2022 |
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Royal Cambrian Academy of Art Annual Exhibition, Conwy, Wales – Highly Commended |
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Royal Scottish Academy Annual Exhibition, Edinburgh, Scotland |
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Camberwell School of Art ‘We are together’, Black History Month exhibition, London |
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The House of Smalls ‘Shadow’, Dollhouse exhibition, curated by Amy Oliver |
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 Commission for Ignatius Sancho Memorial relief sculpture:
Grade 2 Listed wall of Greenwich Park, London UK - Design brief from painting (1768) of Sancho (c1729-1780) by Thomas Gainsborough.
Render by Charlie Harris RIBA.
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![Painting (1768) of Sancho (c1729-1780) by Thomas Gainsborough [image from Wikipedia]](images/info/Ignatius_Sancho-1768-smll.jpg) Painting (1768) of Sancho (c1729-1780) by Thomas Gainsborough [image from Wikipedia] |
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Portcullis House Olaudah Equiano sculpture on mezzanine floor, Parliamentary Art Collection |
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Royal Museums Greenwich ‘Inspiring art at the Queen’s House’, Greenwich, London |
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Rome Art Program (RAP) – Interview – May 2022
“Art, Whatever It Takes” - Christy Symington Interview |
| 2021 |
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Royal Scottish Academy Annual Exhibition, Edinburgh, Scotland |
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Copeland Gallery ‘Show Your Colours’, Peckham Festival curated by Nicola Reid |
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Royal Hibernian Academy Annual - Preselected (withdrawn due to Brexit costs), Dublin, Ireland |
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The House of Smalls ‘This Volatile State’, Dollhouse exhibition, Castle Eaton, Wiltshire |
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 Royal Society of Sculptors
Members’ ‘Summer Exhibition: Gonna Get CrayCray’,
selected and curated by Sigrid Kirk
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Parndon Mill Gallery ‘Offline Exhibition’, Harlow, Essex |
| 2020 |
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 Royal West of England (RWA)
Open Annual Exhibition (Featured),
Bristol
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Society of Women Artists (SWA), Open Annual Exhibition, London online |
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Verisart Certification – Bronzechain ‘Head Inspired By BASQUIAT’ Bronze |
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Rome Art Program (RAP), Scholarships Benefit Auction, NYC/Rome |
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University Women’s Club, ‘Black History Month USA Event’ Invited Speaker, Mayfair, London |
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Parliament UK, ‘Recent Acquisitions’ (Featured), Parliamentary Art Collection, Westminster |
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University Women's Club, 'WOMEN MAKING NO!SE', Mayfair, London - Michelle Molyneux, Carole Robb, Christy Symington, Veronica Vossen |
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The Gallery, Parndon Mill, 'FACING FORWARD', Harlow, Essex - paintings by Lorna Brown, Martyn Burdon, Corinna Dunlea, John Farningham, Caroline Lumb, John Sellings, sculptures by Christy Symington |
| 2019 |
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Houses of Parliament, Westminster, London |
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Salon d'Automne 2019 Jury selection, Champs Elysees, Paris |
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 Acquisition for Permanent Collection:
Parliamentary Art Collection, Westminster, London – First portrait sculpture of a BAME person in the collection, sixth female portrait sculptor
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SHAPESLewisham Launch Exhibition, Second Floor Studios, Deptford, London |
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International Slavery Museum 'Challenging Histories', Liverpool |
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Royal Museums Greenwich, Queens House, London |
| 2018 |
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Salon d’Automne 2018 Jury Selection, Champs Elysees, Paris |
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Historic Dockyard Chatham ‘Untold Stories - A Celebration of Black People in Kent’ |
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APT Gallery ‘APT + ONE’ Deptford, London - Invited by Arnold Dobbs |
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Royal Society of Sculptors Members ‘Summer Exhibition 2018’ Selected and Curated by Jo Baring, Director of Ingram Collection 23 Members selected, London |
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MESSUMS Wiltshire ‘Revelation of the Head’ Tisbury, Wiltshire curated by Catherine Milner |
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 Acquisition for Permanent Collection:
Royal Museums Greenwich on display in the Queen’s House, Greenwich, London
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International Slavery Museum Talk & Workshop on International Slavery Day, Liverpool |
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Uncooked Culture ‘One Bare Foot Square’ Space BRUT/The Living Museum, Seoul, S Korea |
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Mr Asquith Gibbes MBE Memorial Sculpture Commission Final shortlist Lewisham London |
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Society of Portrait Sculptors ‘FACE 2018’ Preselect |
| 2017 |
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International Slavery Museum 'Ink and Blood: stories of abolition' 10th Anniversary Special Exhibition, National Museums Liverpool, Albert Dock, Liverpool |
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 Acquisition for Permanent Collection:
International Slavery Museum, Albert Dock, National Museums Liverpool
Transatlantic and Contemporary Slavery Project - Collecting Cultures Acquisition funded by Heritage Lottery Fund
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Young Masters Prize Tour 2017 with Cynthia Corbett, Royal Opera Arcade Gallery, London |
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The Society of Women Artists (SWA), ‘156th Annual Exhibition’, Mall Galleries, London |
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ArtSlant – Sculpture Category Winner in 7th 2017 ArtSlant Prize Showcase |
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Celeste Prize 2017 9th edition by Fatos Ustek – Editor’s Choice |
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The Columbia Threadneedle Prize Mall Galleries, London Preselect |
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The Royal Scottish Academy of Art and Architecture RSA Open, Edinburgh Preselect |
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Royal West of England Academy, Bristol Preselect |
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Uncooked Culture ‘One Bare Foot Square’, Chiangrai Rajabhat University, Thailand |
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SPACE / LCN London Creative Network Showcase '#OlaudahEQUIANO in BLACK and WHITE #BlackHistoryMonth' curated with words by Tontxi Vazquez, Hackney, London |
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Walmer Castle 'Uncooked Culture Spring Art Showcase', Notting Hill, London |
| 2016 |
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London Creative Network / SPACE Studios. Selected participant for 6 month professional artist development programme with London Creative Network (LCN), Hackney, London E8 |
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 Stephen Lawrence Centre Gallery, SCULPTURE & SPOKEN WORD for Stephen Lawrence [13.9.74 - 22.4.93]'
Solo exhibition with invited poets Abiodun Oyewole of The Last Poets and Caleb Femi, Young People’s Laureate 2016
Solo Exhibition information
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Black Cultural Archives: ‘Black Georgians: The Shock of the Familiar’, 1 Windrush Square, Brixton, London SW2 1EF
Featured portrait sculpture of OLAUDAH EQUIANO |
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Outsider Art Gallery Amsterdam, The Hermitage, ‘One Bare Foot Square’, Amsterdam, The Netherlands |
| 2015 |
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 Black Cultural Archives: ‘Black Georgians: The Shock of the Familiar’, 1 Windrush Square, Brixton, London SW2 1EF
Featured portrait sculpture of OLAUDAH EQUIANO - Exhibition extended until 4 June 2016
Sculpture details | Visit exhibition website
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Conway Hall, ‘Slavery and the Shaping of British Culture’ talk by Prof James Walvin, London WC1 |
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Deptford X Fringe 2015, 'Deptford Conversations', 1 of 24 projects selected by Janette Parris, St Nicholas Church, Deptford, London SE8 |
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Stephen Lawrence Centre Gallery, ‘OLAUDAH EQUIANO MAN AND BROTHER’, Deptford, London SE8 - Solo Exhibition information
'Olaudah Equiano Man and Brother’
 Follow his touring venues
Find out more
'Olaudah Equiano My Brother’
Add your 'handshake' image
at various venues:
Find out more
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| 2014 |
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Uncooked Culture, 'Circus Terminal’ – Touring: Matchbox Gallery, Wellington, New Zealand – NZ FRINGE Festival 2014
Also in Thailand, Suriname, France and Slovenia
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| 2013 |
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APT Gallery, ‘Creekside Open 2013’, Deptford, London SE8, selected by Paul Noble [Turner Prize Nominee 2012] |
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London West Bank Gallery, ‘Circus Terminal Worldwide Routemasters’, 43 international artists [Featured Artist] |
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Uncooked Culture, 'Circus Terminal’ – Touring: Studio B, Boyertown, Philadelphia, USA / Amsterdam, The Netherlands |
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Zoological Society London, London Zoo, Regents Park – Sculpture commission: Permanent sculpture of a lifesize swimming ‘Tiger Going For A Swim’ for inauguration of the new ‘Tiger Territory’ enclosure |
| 2012 |
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Pangolin London, 'SCULPTORS' DRAWINGS and Works on Paper'
Exhibition | Press Release |
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Uncooked Culture, 'Circus Terminal - Touring: The Tabernacle, London / Impaktes Visuals, Barcelona, Spain / Chateau Corbin, Liverdun, France / Sangdee Gallery, Chiang Mai, Thailand |
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Marist College, ‘AVRIL / SYMINGTON’, Poughkeepsie, New York |
| 2011 |
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Tiger Gala Dinner Auction, Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Knightsbridge, London |
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Uncooked Culture, ‘Check Your Package’ , Online show: www.uncookedculture.com |
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What To Dip [Raw Material], Chiang Mai Uni Art Center, Thailand |
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Assorted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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| 2010 |
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‘COPY0909’ by Gihon River Collective, [33 Intl Artists & Writers], Notting Hill, London [Chief Curator & Exhibitor] |
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Ana Tzarev Gallery, 57th Street, New York, USA – Freedom to Create Prize |
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320 Gallery, ‘Mindsoup 2010, London |
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South London Gallery, ‘Michael Landy: Art Bin’, London |
| 2009 |
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Victoria & Albert Museum, Orient Global Freedom to Create Prize 2009, London |
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Islington Arts Factory, ‘IfyoudON’TLikeThewaYTHEShiPISruN…’, London |
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Museum of London Docklands, ‘Equiano’s Epigrams’, London |
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London Wetlands Centre, ‘Love London Recycled Sculpture Show 2009’ |
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‘1984: 25th Anniversary Exhibition’ Kowalsky Gallery at DACS [Design and Artists Copyright Society], London |
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The Great American Women’s Sculpture Park, ‘Red White & Blue…Gone Green’, Woodrock, New York
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| 2008 |
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Threadneedle Figurative Prize, The Mall Galleries, London |
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Royal West of England Academy [RWA], “156 Autumn Exhibition 2008”, Bristol |
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Auction Atrium, London Exhibition and Online Auction October 2008 |
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Deptford X, “10th Anniversary”, Deptford, London |
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Art London, ‘”10th Anniversary”, London with Thirteen Langton St Gallery |
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London Zoo ‘Love London Recycled Sculpture Show 2008’ |
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Thirteen Langton Street Gallery, ‘Summer Exhibition’ Cricket Fine Art, London |
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Menier Gallery, ‘True Story – the faces and voices of a community’, London |
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Safe Hands for Mothers ‘Art for Life Auction’, Somerset House, London |
| 2007 |
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‘YoumanNeeds’ Sculptures and Drawings by Christy Symington, (solo), Milton Gallery, St Paul’s School, London |
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Christie’s, London, ‘Art for Survival Wildlife Auction IV’ with DSWF |
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The Society of Portrait Sculptors, “Face 2007”, Cork St, London |
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Chelsea Art Society, Chelsea Old Town Hall, London |
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‘SPECTRUM’ RBS Centenary Sculpture Exhibition, Abbey House, Wilts |
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‘To Do Justly, To Love Mercy: The Interesting Visual Narrative Life of Olaudah Equiano’, London |
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Brockley Public Art Commission, London – currently Shortlist Finalist |
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Kowalsky Gallery at DACS, ‘Politics Pays Back!’, London |
| 2006 |
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‘With an Object in Mind: Sculpture in the Garden 2006’, 7 sculptors, curated by Helaine Blumenfeld, VP of the Royal British Society of Sculptors, University of Leicester |
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‘Artists Choose Artists Choose Artists’, The Painting Center, Soho, New York |
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Chelsea Art Society, Chelsea Old Town Hall, London SW3, UK |
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Exhibition at The Inner Temple Garden 2006, Victoria Embankment, London
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| 2005 |
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‘Sculpture in the Garden: a Celebration of the Royal British Society of Sculptors Centenary', University of Leicester |
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Shortlisted for Christopher Marlowe Memorial Sculpture, Deptford, London |
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‘New York Studio School Alumni’, New York |
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RKL gallery, ‘In Spiritus’, curated by Christina Chow, Brooklyn, New York |
| 2004 |
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Christie’s, London, “Art for Survival Wildlife Auction III” with DSWF |
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The Society
of Portrait Sculptors 'Face 2004' Cork St, London |
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Chelsea Art Society, Chelsea Old Town Hall, London |
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Artillery Architecture and Interior Design, “Evolution – Art and Environmental Exhibition” |
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Mill Dene Gardens, Blockley, Gloucs, UK |
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The Trinity Arts Guild, Holy Trinity Church, London |
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Royal West of England Academy [RWA], “152 Autumn Exhibition 2004”, Bristol
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| 2003 |
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Royal West of England Academy [RWA], “Open Sculpture” Triennial, Bristol |
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First Wave, (4 painters and a sculptor), The Space, London |
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The Art Academy, Waterloo, London |
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Chelsea Art Society, Chelsea Old Town Hall, London |
| 2002 |
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Christie’s, London, “Art for Survival Wildlife Auction II” with DSWF |
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The Society of Portrait Sculptors, “Face 2002”, Cork St, London
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| 2001 |
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National Arts Club, Gramercy Park, NY, USA (Paul Manship Award) |
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Bay One Inaugural Exhibition, Brooklyn Piers, New York |
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Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, Vermont, USA |
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Taller Boricua Gallery, “Las Tres Christinas”, Spanish Harlem, New York |
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Mad River Post, Broadway, New York, USA (2 person) |
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The Great American Women’s Sculpture Park, Woodrock, upstate New York |
| 2000 |
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First Street Gallery, 560 Broadway, Soho, New York |
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University of Bridgeport, “Figuratively Speaking”, Connecticut |
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BWAC, Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park, “Bridging The Gap”, Brooklyn, New York |
| 1999 |
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Angel Orensanz Foundation Center For The Arts, New York (solo) |
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McKee Gallery, “Absolut Secret”, 57th Street, New York
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| 1998 |
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New York Studio School, 8th Street, New York |
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Cathedral of Erotic Miseries, “One-Off Gaze”, East Village, New York |
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Liz Christy Garden, East Village, New York, USA |
| 1997 |
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Atelier des Beaux Arts, Montparnasse and Glaciere, Paris, France |
| 1996 |
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Chelsea Art Society, Chelsea Old Town Hall, London SW3, UK |
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Red Dot Gallery, London, UK |
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home | sculpture | castings | drawings | information
All images and website © Christy Symington MRSS/DACS 2024 | Photos by Tontxi Vazquez
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![Painting (1768) of Sancho (c1729-1780) by Thomas Gainsborough [image from Wikipedia]](images/info/Ignatius_Sancho-1768-lg.jpg)
