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American artist Beverly Semmes is one of a number of younger generation artists working with issues involving the body and feminism. Her early sculptures took the form of wearable garments such as Cloud Hats and Cloud Clothing, which were usually filmed and/or photographed with the wearer engaged in a narrative.

Since 1991, Semmes’s sculptures have evolved to over-sized flat dress forms, made in crushed velvet, organza, fake fur and other fabrics, pinned to the wall and flowing on to the floor. Some works exist alone, while others are grouped to form installations.

The exhibition, her first one-person show in Ireland, surveyed the artist’s work over the past five years and included photoworks and large environmental installations as well as small-scale sculptures. There were two new works in the exhibition, one of which, Twister, involved a new kinetic element.

A fully-illustrated catalogue documenting the exhibition, including an essay by New York based-writer Laura Cottingham, is available: price £9.99.


About the Artist

Beverly Semmes b.1958

American sculptor Beverly Semmes occupies a fault-line between fashion and art. Inspired by her work as a set designer for the ballet, Semmes’ monumental fabric creations fuse personal fantasy and social commentary. Incorporating highly sensuous materials, velvet, tulle, organza and lamé, her sculptures explore the power of clothing and its ability to influence, and even define the self. Semmes has been exhibiting internationally since the 1990s. She has had solo exhibitions at the Sculpture Centre, New York; Camden Arts Centre, London; the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago. ‘Beverly Semmes: New and Recent Sculpture’ was shown at IMMA in 1996.
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Additional Resources 

 

Additional Resources

Artist Talk | Beverly Semmes (1996) Soundcloud
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