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:
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/