Cast away
Matt McGuire meets a new member of the Brighton artworld, sculptor and general multi-talented artist Keziah Wilkes
The future might be bright, the future might be orange. And, if 80s one-hit-wonders Timbuk3 were to be believed, we may even have to wear shades if we want to view it safely and/or look cool while sauntering about in it. But one thing is certain: it will be chockfull of art.
ArtisticFutures.co.uk is the website of Brighton-based sculptor and portrait artist Keziah Gabriela Wilkes, and it’s bursting at its finely wrought, delicately crafted seams with wagonloads of wonderful work.
“I was drawing and painting before I could speak or write,” begins Keziah. “And later, in secondary school, some fantastic teachers gave me free rein in the art department. They showed me advanced techniques very early on and, well, basically allowed me to make a huge amount of mess! That’s when I knew I wanted to be a sculptor.”
While gaining a first class degree in sculpture and a Masters in art and design, Keziah held a number of exhibitions. One sold out completely, and she’s since gone on to undertake a wide range of private commissions.
“I love portraiture too,” she adds. “There’s nothing more challenging or satisfying than capturing someone’s spirit or character on paper.” Indeed, fellow Brightonians beware, because Keziah rarely leaves the house without her sketchbook and is currently compiling a collection of drawings of faces she sees out and about in cafes and bars, on buses and on trains.
“I particularly love drawing people on train journeys,” she smiles. “Everyone’s anticipating where they’re going to or returning from somewhere and everything they’re thinking and feeling is so transparent. They’re not even really participating in the journey; their faces are relaxed, they’re completely open…”
“It’s wonderful to be around so many creative people all the time. It’s really inspiring”
These found faces will soon be available to view on her website, alongside existing images of other work that includes body castings and bronzes, life drawings and paintings, as well as a range of supremely tactile aluminium casts complete with red flocking.
Keziah moved to Brighton two months ago. “It’s wonderful to be around so many creative people all the time,” she smiles. “It’s a big change from where I‘m from and really inspiring.”
All of which is lovely, of course. But we should clearly all take care next time we find ourselves dozing off on the train, lest our dribbling, gormless chops get stealthily documented and then cast in multiple tonnes of bronze for eternity…
Keziah Gabriela Wilkes,
ArtisticFutures,
www.artisticfutures.co.uk
email: keziah@artisticfutures.co.uk
