Francis Upritchard

Francis Upritchard (b.1976, New Zealand) incorporates a vast variety of materials and found objects within her practice and draws upon the legacy of applied arts. Her sculptural installations are amalgamations of art, craft, architecture and design that make use of ceramics, textiles, furniture and lighting. Fascinated by the everyday detritus of life, Upritchard first became known for recycling consumer and domestic debris into ritualistic objects. More recently, Upritchard’s work has, in part, focused on small-scale voodoo-like figurative sculptures that reflect on the naivety of 1960s and ’70s alternative culture.

Upritchard also frequently collaborates with contemporary writers. For her 2012 solo show at Nottingham Contemporary, an accompanying essay was written by the acclaimed novelist Ali Smith.

Her solo exhibition is currently on view at Kate MacGarry until 26 April.

Francis Upritchard (born 1976 New Zealand) studied at Canterbury University of Fine Arts, New Zealand (1997) since graduating Upritchard  has undertaken various residencies internationally including Camden Arts Centre, London (2004), Belem Contemporary Art Flux, Belem, Brazil (2004), Govett-Brewster Art Gallery, New Plymouth, New Zealand (2007-2008) and most recently Artspace, Sydney (2008). Francis Upritchard is this years artist selected for the Whitechapel Gallery Children’s Art Commission which will be on display at the Whitechapel Gallery later this year. Forthcoming and recent solo exhibitions include: Francis Upritchard, Kate MacGarry, London (2014), Mandrake, The Douglas Hyde Gallery, Dublin (2013), War Dance, Anton Kern Gallery, New York (2013), Potato Poem, MIMOCA, Kagawa, Japan (2013), Francis Upritchard, Ivan Anthony Gallery, Auckland (2013), A Hand of Cards, Nottingham Contemporary (2012), A Long Wait, Contemporary Arts Center, Cincinnati (2012), Echo, Kate MacGarry, London (2011), Echo, Amersfoort Kunsthal, The Netherlands (2011), Methusalem, Ivan Anthony, Auckland (2011).