Using archival paper and laser-cutting technology, Isobel Napier (b. 1994, UK) designs and creates intricately constructed paper sculptures that resemble woven fabric.
Cut line-by-line to leave the strands of warp threads, a solid, coherent form, is irreversibly changed into one that is extremely fragile and transient, with the hanging works becoming almost soft and flowing. These digitally designed, machine-made sculptures echo traditional weaving, considering how the development of material experimentation has allowed contemporary makers to expand on and learn from traditional textile production.
Napier showed at The New Art Centre, in Common Thread; an exhibition that brought together a group of artists each of who’s work reflects on the place of textiles both in art, and in contemporary society.
Next showing at Future Icons Selects for London Craft Week, 11th - 14th May, Oxo Tower Wharf's Bargehouse building.
EDUCATION
The Slade School of Fine Art, UCL, BA (hons) (1st class), 2014 - 2018
Kingston University, Art Foundation, Distinction, 2013 - 2014
EXHIBITIONS
Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair - Woolwich Works - 3rd - 6th November 2022
The Ingram Prize - Unit 1 Gallery / Workshop - 19th - 26th Nov 2021
Public Notice - East London - 20 - 30 Aug 2020
Common Thread - The New Art Centre - 01 Jun – 28 Aug 2020
Bloomberg New Contemporaries 2019:
- Bloomberg New Contemporaries 2019, South London Gallery - 06 Dec 2019 - 23 Feb 2020
- Bloomberg New Contemporaries 2019, Leeds Art Gallery - 14 Sep, 2019 - 17 Nov, 2019
Rolling Collection - San Mei Gallery - Jul 2018 - present
The WAC Awards, The Bishop’s Palace, Wells - 06 - 21 Oct, 2018
Paper, Scissors, Stone - an exhibition with The Auction Collective - Alon Zakaim Fine Art, 5-7 Dover Street, London, WIS 4LD - 06 - 08 Nov, 2018
CONTACT
isobelnapier@hotmail.co.uk
AWARDS
The Michael Farrell Memorial Prize - For excellence and innovation in photography and its relationship with form, image and process - Slade (UCL)
COLLABORATIONS
Aēsop - ‘In celebration of London Craft Week, we asked Isobel Napier to train her digitally controlled laser-cutter to analogue editions of our literary publication, The Fabulist’.
Burberry - ‘Six creative talents were invited to execute the graphic pattern of the new Thomas Burberry monogram in their own style’.
https://uk.burberry.com/the-art-of-interpretation/
PRESS
Interview - Through ObjectsDesign Objects in connection with Nature, Art & Craft, Copenhagen
https://through-objects.com/blog/qa-with-isobel-napier-about-laser-cut-paper-series/