The opening of Metropolitan Wares - the second annual Sculpture Town Artist in Residence exhibition will be from 1-3pm at The Gibberd Gallery in Harlow, Essex on Saturday 17th November.

Metropolitan Wares is a solo presentation of new and developing work by the 2017/18 artist in residence, Paloma Proudfoot. Its title refers to Metropolitan Slipware, highly decorated pottery produced in Harlow in the 17th century so-called because much of it went to be sold on the London market as affordable household ceramics. Inscribed with Puritanical inscriptions such as 'FAST AND PRAY' and 'FOR EARTH I AM', Metropolitan Slipware speaks to the different ways people have communicated their beliefs and allegiances through everyday objects over time, obvious today in the prevalence of slogan clothing. Items loaned from Harlow Museum will sit alongside Proudfoots's own work in ceramics and clothes-making, and artwork inspired by her practice and produced in artist-led workshops will be on display in the Hideaway Gallery.

Paloma Proudfoot (b.1992) lives and works in London.

Sculpture Town Artist in Residence programme
Founded in 1953, Harlow Art Trust (HAT), is the custodian of a nationally significant collection of over 90 public sculptures, which includes work by Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth and Elisabeth Frink. Since 2016, HAT has partnered with the Royal College of Art, Harlow College, ACAVA studios, Pearsons Education and the Public Monuments & Sculpture Association to run an annual sculpture residency for a graduating RCA MA Sculpture student. Recipients to date have been Finn Thomson (2016/17), Paloma Proudfoot (2017/18) and Camille Yvert (2018/19). 

The STAIR is provided with a studio in the centre of town, mentoring, and bursaries for materials, travel and subsistence. There is no brief or direction imposed on the artist as to what may be produced during their residency, so long as they challenge themselves through the environment of Harlow and a ‘thing/s’ are made for a solo exhibition at the Gibberd Gallery. During the residency the STAIR also takes the lead in primary, secondary and tertiary level education workshops supported by Harlow College and the Public Monuments & Sculpture Association. After their exhibition, a piece of artwork is selected for donation to Harlow Art Trust’s collection, a new legacy of contemporary sculpture for the town.