Manchester, UK

May 25 - June 4, 2017

Artist's Statement

Jenny Steele is a Scottish artist based in Manchester, UK. Her work references 20th century architecture and interiors; particularly coastal mid-war modernist architecture and design. She is interested in the permanence of architecture and how it embodies changing governance, social history, whilst demonstrating utopic hope for the future. By exploring formal and decorative aspects of architecture and interiors, she processes elements through drawing, printmaking, textiles and sculpture.

From 2014-2016, she researched into 1930s seaside modern architecture in North West England and Scotland that was constructed in the mid war leisure boom. 'Looking Back|Moving Forwards', (lookingbackmovingforward.wordpress.com) explored iconic buildings such as Blackpool Pleasure Beach and The Midland Hotel, and lesser known structures such as the abandoned lido at Grange over Sands, Cumbria. Alongside this, she investigated corresponding architectural materials in the RIBA archive, as well as examples of modernist interior design such as Marion Dorn and Gunta Stolzl at the V&A and Whitworth archives. From this extensive research, she developed a new body of drawing, printmaking and sculptural work, which was exhibited in a solo exhibition at The Grundy Art Gallery, Blackpool, UK 2016, with accompanying symposium on Seaside Moderne.

Recent projects include; ‘This House for Building’ residency and exhibition at The Tetley, Leeds, UK (2017) (thishouseforbuildingthisbuildingforhope.wordpress.com), ‘Finding Treblinka’ for Staffordshire University and the Rothschild Foundation (2015) exhibited at Treblinka Museum, Poland and Wiener Library, London, UK and Preston Remembers (2012) in association with In Certain Places, UK. Upcoming projects include a site specific external and internal commission at The Midland Morecambe (2017) and commission for the A B&B, Blackpool, UK (2017).

Jenny Steele’s research project ‘Miami Moderne’ is supported by an Artists International Development Grant from Arts Council England and The British Council. She will be researching into 1930s-1940s modernist seafront architecture within Miami Beach through primary and archival research, as well as meeting with a range of arts professionals in Miami.

‘Too Much is Never Enough’, an exhibition of Steele’s prints onto drawings, textiles and paper, is on at The Breakwater, 940 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, Florida 33139 from 17th May- 3rd June, open all day, Monday- Sunday.

Jenny Steele will be giving a Breakfast Salon talk about her practice and British mid war seafront architecture on May 31st 9.30am- 11am at The Betsy Ross Hotel, 1440 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33139

In association with BritWeek Miami.

Free, but booking essential. Link to book below:

https://the-betsy-south-beach.ticketleap.com/breakfast-arts-salon-with-jenny-steele/

Website: www.jennysteele.co.uk