BIOGRAPHY
Sarah Strachan (b. 1974, Andover, UK) is an emerging artist with a transdisciplinary practice based in Cambridge, UK. She explores her ideas through printmaking, painting, and ceramics. Her work often fuses sound and/or moving image into the final installation as in Objects listening (2020) which was recently exhibited in Fresh 2021 at the British Ceramic Biennial in Stoke-on-Trent. Through her open approaches she senses environmental changes during research, collaboration and deep conversations with the land, its people and its materials. Working with ceramics allows her to explore issues of sustainability through her choice of materials and process – working with manufactured, recycled and wild clay. Whilst materials are important in Sarah’s practice, her creative concepts with a social or community dimension are often more embedded and enduring. For example, The air we breathe (2018-ongoing) in exploring issues of inter-generational justice and air quality and Just a spoonful (2021-ongoing) in uncovering the complexities of our relationship with soil. This is because her interest lies in how our perception of being in, knowing and belonging to the world affects our ecological awareness and thinking. Sarah’s work seeks to question or disrupt habitual perspectives through the liminality of objects, materials and spaces she creates.
SARAH STRACHAN
Group exhibitions
BIENNALE ARTBOX EXPO
June 2022
Beyondness, 2022 , An invitation to drift, 2021 and Just a spoonful digital versions exhibited at Tana Art Space, Venice, Italy. Curated by Patricia Zenklusen - more info
FRESH AIR SCULPTURE SHOHW
June 2022
Nature of things, 2018 selected for exhibition in Quenington, UK. Curated by Stephanie Cushing - more info
EXPLORING THE RIVER AS A CONNECTIVE ENTITY
June 2022
An exhibition at Robinson College, Cambridge UK. Co-curated by Mattie O'Callaghan and Polly Hines - more info
URBANSIDE GALLERY
May 2022
An invitation to drift, 2021 digital version exhibited by Urbanside Gallery, Zurich, Switzerland - more info
DERBY PRINT OPEN
June 2022
Precious metal, 2018 and Deadly metal I & II , 2020 selected for exhibition at Green Door Printmaking Studio and Gallery, Derby, UK - more info
THOMSON GALLERY
May 2022
Beyondness, 2022 digital version exhibited by Thomson Gallery, Zug, Switzerland - more info
LELIE GALERIJ
May 2022
Just a spoonful, 2021 digital version exhibited by Lelie Galerij, Amsterdam, Netherlands - more info
THIS IS ALSO NOT A SHOE SHOP
May 2022
Interface 2022, a site-specific installation responding to the Mezzanine Floor of the Lord Ashcroft Building, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK. Part of a Cambridge School of Art MA Interim show - more info
SUSTAINABILITY ART PRIZE
April 2022
Beyondness, 2022 shortlisted for prize and exhibited in Ruskin Gallery, Cambridge, UK - more info
ABERDEEN ARTISTS SOCIETY
April 2022
Deadly metal I & II, 2020 and Conscious crystal, 2020 selected for 2022 exhibition at Aberdeen Art Gallery, UK - more info
UNCOVERED
March 2022
Exhibiting work in progress with Mud Collective in response to How do you research through art? Ruskin Gallery, Cambridge, UK - more info
PRESENT TENSE: FUTURE PERFECT
March 2022
An invitation to drift, 2021 exhibited as part of a Cambridge School of Art alumni show, curated by Itiswhatitis Duo in the Ruskin Gallery, Cambridge - more info
THIS IS NOT A SHOE SHOP
March 2022
Beyondness, 2022 exhibited as part of a Cambridge School of Art MA Interim pop-up show in the Grafton Centre, Cambridge - more info
ECLECTIC EYE ART FAIR
February 2022
Borborygmi 2021/2022, (a collaboration between STRACHAN + TURNER) exhibited at the University Arms Hotel, Cambridge - more info
TEBBS INTERNATIONAL ART PRIZE AWARD 2022
February 2022
Objects listening III, 2020 exhibited at Tebbs Contemporary Art Gallery, London - more info
COLLABORATION IN PRACTICE
February 2022
Borborygmi 2021/2022 (a collaboration between STRACHAN + TURNER) exhibited as part of the Newplatform.art Lab 2021 online exhibition - more info
WORK IN PROGRESS
November 2021
An invitation to drift, 2021 exhibited as part of the MA Visual Research Practice exhibition in the Ruskin Gallery, Cambridge - more info
37th ANNUAL OPEN
November 2021
Precious metal, 2018; Deadly metal I, 2020 and Deadly metal II, 2020 exhibited at Southwark Park Galleries - more info
ENGLISH RIVIERA WINTER OPEN
November 2021
River bowl, 2018 and Vortex series, 2018 (ceramics) exhibited at Artizan Gallery, Torquay - more info
FRESH 2021
September 2021
Objects listening, 2020 selected for exhibition at the British Ceramic Biennial, Stoke-on-Trent - more info
COLLECTIVE REBOUND
September 2021
Bodies of water, 2020 exhibited in Motion Sickness Project Space, Cambridge - more info
SOUND WALK SEPTEMBER 2021
September 2021
Mesopotamian Mud, A Journey Through Voice and Vessel, 2021 created as part of MUD collective and selected for SWS21 - more info
GLOBAL CONVERSATIONS
August 2021
Mesopotamian Mud, A Journey Through Voice and Vessel, 2021 created as part of MUD collective and selected for the CRASSH 20th anniversary exhibition, University of Cambridge - more info
7TH ART RESILIENCE
August 2021
Deadly metal I & II, 2020 selected for the open exhibition at the Musée de Peinture de Saint-Frajou, France - more info
SUMMER OPEN
August 2021
Deadly metal II, 2020 selected for the open exhibition at the Babylon Gallery, Ely - more info
DISTANCED DOMESTIC
July 2021
Liminal vessels, 2020 exhibited at the co-curation show curated by Marley Treloar at MKII (The Old Dairy Hall), Hackney - more info
SUMMER EXHIBITION
July 2021
Precious metal, 2018 and Deadly metal I, 2020 selected as part of the Our Changing World online show and Deadly metal II, 2020 exhibited in the D31 Gallery show in Doncaster - more info
HOLT FESTIVAL
July 2021
Conscious crystal, 2020 shortlisted for the Sir John Hurt Art Prize and exhibited at Lees Gallery, Holt - more info
ENGLISH RIVIERA SUMMER OPEN
July 2021
Deadly metal I & II, 2020 (prints), Cyclone series, 2018 & In circulation, 2020 (ceramics) exhibited at Artizan Gallery, Torquay - more info
COME OUTSIDE
July 2021
Life or death (of materials), 2020 exhibited in online show Come Outside, curated by Roisin Delaney - more info
RECONNECTING
July 2021
The air we breathe, 2019 exhibited as part of the Sustainability First Art Prize 2020 in the Bermondsey Project Space - more info
LONDON ART BIENNALE
June 2021
Objects listening III, 2020 selected by London Art Biennale and exhibited at Chelsea Old Town Hall, London - more info
VOICES OF EARTH
June 2021
Precious earth, 2021 exhibited as part of Art from Heart's online exhibition - more info
V2 - THE FLUX REVIEW
June 2021
Conscious crystal, 2020 and Precious metal, 2018 exhibited as part of The Flux Review's virtual exhibition - more info
OPEN ART CONTEST
June 2021
Objects listening, 2020 exhibited at ArtNumber23's Gallery, Thisseio, Athens. Awarded First Prize in Open Art Contest, 2020 - more info
SUSTAINABILITY ART PRIZE
June 2021
Just a spoonful, 2021 exhibited as part of the Sustainability Art Prize online. Awarded First Prize - more info
IEA OPEN
May 2021
Deadly metal II, exhibited as part of the Institute of East Anglian Artists Annual Open at the Lees Gallery, Holt - more info
TOD GALLERY
May 2021
The air we breathe, 2019 exhibited as part of the TOD Gallery's exhibition space inside a dresser - more info
HERE & THERE
May 2021
Mesopotamian Mud: the third walk, 2021 working as part of MUD collective, exhibited as part of The Window Room and Parkhaus15's collaborative livestream - more info
QUEENS' ART TRAIL
May 2021
Sugar, 2021 and Nature of things, 2018 exhibited as part of Queens' Art Festival's Art trail in venues throughout Cambridge - more info
PROXIMITY BY PROXY
April 2021
Just a spoonful, 2021 exhibited as part of MA Fine Art and Printmaking show in the Ruskin Gallery - more info
FACADE
April 2021
Objects listening 2020, selected by The Holy Art for exhibition in Hackney - more info
NEXT (Au Suivant)
April 2021
Precious earth 2021, selected by Cultivate Gallery for online exhibition - more info
ARTIZAN SMALL WORKS
April 2021
Objects listening 2020, selected by Round Lemon for exhibition at Zest Hall - more info
ONE
March 2021
Objects listening 2020, selected by Round Lemon for exhibition at Zest Hall - more info
ROAR
March 2021
Life or death (of materials) 2020, exhibited by Art at the ARB, Centre for Research in the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Cambridge - more info
SPRING OPEN 2021
March 2021
Topography, 2021, exhibited by The Absent Gallery in their virtual 3D exhibition - more info
THE SKY HAS NO SURFACE
March 2021
Conscious crystal, 2020 and Liminal vessels, 2020 exhibited online - more info
PERSONA
March 2021
Conscious crystal, 2020 exhibited by Holy Art Gallery in their online gallery - more info
DO IT YOUR WAY
March 2021
Fear of failure, 2019, selected in response to exhibition provocation break/broken - exhibited online and instagram takeover - more info
BLACK + WHITE
March 2021
Objects listening, 2020 exhibited by Envision Arts in their online gallery - more info
QUEENS' ARTS FESTIVAL
March 2021
Sugar, 2021 and Nature of things, 2018 exhibited in QAF virtual exhibition as part of the festival theme - community - more info
CURRENT
March 2021
Conscious crystal, 2020, exhibited online by Itiswhatitis Duo in association with CAN (Cambridge Arts Network) - more info
NEW TENANTS
March 2021
Objects listening, 2020, exhibited by Around the house productions in their virtual gallery - more info
42,602,038 +
February 2021
Conscious crystal, 2020, exhibited by Stay Connected in their online virtual gallery - more info
INTERIM ARTS
January 2021
Objects listening, 2020 featured on Interim Arts' online collective platform - more info
99 WORLD ARTISTS CONTEST
January 2021
Wind, 2018 and Fear of failure, 2019 exhibited as part of 99 World Artist's online exhibition - more info
THIS IS NOT A BALCONY (SHOW)
January 2021
Life or death (of materials), 2020 exhibited as part of an Instagram preview for the forthcoming MA Fine Art exhibition at the Ruskin Gallery in Cambridge - more info
RE:CULTIVATE
January 2021
In Circulation, 2020, selected for Cultivate Gallery's online exhibition - more info
TEESSIDE PRINT PRIZE
January 2021
Precious metal, 2018 and Deadly metal, 2020 selected and exhibited at The Palace Hub Gallery in Redcar and Cleveland. - more info
TSDAP
January 2021
Objects listening, 2020 exhibited online by The Socially Distant Art Project (TSDAP) with other 2020 graduates - more info
ARTNUMBER23 OPEN CONTEST
December 2020
Objects listening, 2020 selected for online exhibition and awarded first prize in contest in Athens, Greece - more info
SOUTHWARK PARK GALLERIES 36th ANNUAL OPEN
December 2020
All that remains, 2017, Precious metal, 2018 and Deadly metal 2020, exhibited at Southwark Park Gallery's online exhibition - more info
ENGLISH RIVERIA WINTER OPEN
November 2020
All that remains, 2017 and Precious metal, 2018 exhibited at Artizan Gallery, Torquay, UK - more info
SHEROES IN QUARANTINE
October 2020
Liminal vessels, 2020 selected for online exhibition by collaborative project Sheroes - more info
DO IT YOUR WAY
October 2020
Nature in the balance, 2018, exhibited as part of the online group show - more info
SWA 159th ANNUAL OPEN
September 2020
Precious metal, 2018 selected for the Society of Women Artists' online exhibition - more info
GRADCURATE SUMMER 2020
August 2020
Objects listening, 2020, selected for online UK graduates show - more info
ENGLISH RIVERIA SUMMER OPEN
August 2020
All that remains, 2017 and Precious metal, 2018 exhibited at Artizan Gallery, Torquay, UK - more info
SUMMER OPEN
August 2020
Precious metal, 2018 and Cyclone series, 2018 exhibited at Babylon Arts, Ely, UK - more info
INTERNATIONAL ART RESILIENCE
August 2020
Precious metal, 2018, exhibited online at Saint Frajou Art Museum, France - more info
BIRD BOX GALLERY
July 2020
Precious metal 2018, exhibited in the Bird Box Gallery in Cambridge, UK - more info
MATERIALITY
July 2020
Liminal vessels, 2020, exhibited online as part of the online group exhibition - more info
HAUS-A-REST
June 2020
The library of the future, 2020 , exhibited online as part of the online Zine/Instagram exhibition - Materiality - more info
PRESENT
June 2020
Objects listening, 2020 and Bodies of water, 2020, exhibited online as part of the Cambridge School of Art Graduate Showcase - more info
SUSTAINABILITY ART PRIZE
May 2020
The library of the future, 2020, shortlisted and exhibited online as part of the Sustainability Art Prize supported by Anglia Ruskin University, UK - more info
QUEENS' ART FESTIVAL
February 2020
Contingent on carbon, 2019, selected and exhibited as part of the festival at Queens' College, University of Cambridge, UK - more info
TRANSITION
February 2020
The library of the future, 2020, site specific installation in the University Library at Anglia Ruskin University. Exhibited as part of the third-year interim show of work by Fine Art students at Cambridge School of Art.
ENVIRONMENTAL CRISIS: ART AND SCIENCE
February 2020
The air we breathe, 2019, shortlisted and exhibited as part of a group exhibition at the Gerald Moore Gallery, London, UK.
THE ART OF WATCHING ART
January 2020
Wind i,ii,iii, 2018 and The Artwatcher, 2020 exhibited as part of the group exhibition at Motion Sickness Project Space curated by Itiswhatitis_duo.
THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING
November 2019
Holding on, 2019 exhibited as part of a group exhibition of work by Fine Art students at Cambridge School of Art hosted by Motion Sickness in their Project Space in Cambridge, UK.
ROYAL SCOTTISH ACADEMY OPEN
November 2019
Precious metal, 2018 selected and exhibited as part of the annual open exhibition at the Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh, UK.
THOUGHTFUL PLANET 3
September 2019
The air we breathe, 2019 selected and exhibited as part of the Thoughtful Planet 3 exhibition at the Thought Foundation, Gateshead, UK.
RETURN TO NATURE
September 2019
Group exhibition at Legacy Art Gallery, Todmorden, UK.
AA2A ENVIRONMENTAL SUMMER
August 2019
Selected for online group exhibition organised by Artists Access to Art Colleges (AA2A).
ART@ARB SUMMER OPEN
July 2019
Precious metal, 2018 shortlisted and exhibitied in the annual open exhibition at the Alison Richards Building, University of Cambridge, UK
MAKING MARKS - ART ON THE WALL
June 2019
Group exhibition at Unit 6 studio and gallery, Richmond, UK
SUSTAINABILITY ART PRIZE
April 2019
The air we breathe, 2019. Collaborative art project resulting in a sculpture shortlisted for the Sustainability Art Prize 2019, Anglia Ruskin University.
DEUIXEME
April 2019
Care, 2019. Site specific installation in Ruskin Corridor, Cambridge School of Art, UK.
CONNEXTIONS
February 2019
Fear of failure, 2019. Ceramic sculpture and oil on canvas for Connextions exhibition in collaboration with the Cambridge Arts Network conference 2019 hosted by Anglia Ruskin University.
MERGE
February 2019
You never step into the same river twice, 2018. Digital image and sound installation for an exhibition of work by 2nd year Cambridge School of Art students, Merge, in Ruskin Corridor, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK.
VISION
January 2019
Stack (& measure), 2018. Ceramic sculpture and found objects for an exhibition of work by 2nd year fine art students, Vision at the Ruskin Gallery, Cambridge, UK.
SENSE OF PLACE
January 2019
All that remains, 2017. Photopolymer print for Sense of Place exhibition at the White Room Gallery, Yellow Arch, Sheffield, UK.
MILL ROAD WINTER FAIR ART SALON
December 2018
All that remains, 2017. Photopolymer print for Mill Road Winter Fair Art Salon exhibition, at Gallery 9, Cambridge, UK.
50 UNDER 50
November 2018
All that remains, 2017. Photopolymer print for 50 under 50 exhibition, Unit 6 studio and gallery, Richmond, UK.
THE ARCHIVE AND CONTESTED LANSCAPE
October 2018
Shared water, contested water, 2018. Ceramic vessels, found objects and photobook for The Archive & Contested Landscape Exhibition as part of the Cambridge Festival of Ideas 2018.
SALTAIRE SCUPLTURE TRAIL
September 2018
Nature of things, 2018. Ceramic sculpture at Saltaire Festival, Saltaire, UK.
TREEFEST
July 2018
Nature of things, 2018. Ceramic sculpture for East Anglia Children's Hospices' Art Festival, Ipswich, UK.
POST24
April 2018
Nature in the balance, 2018. Ceramic sculpture for POST24 an exhibition of first year Fine Art students, at Cambridge Artworks, Cambridge, UK.
SUSTAINABILITY ART PRIZE
April 2018
Nature of things, 2018. Ceramic sculpture and digital image shortlisted for the Sustainability Art Prize 2018, Anglia Ruskin University.
SARAH STRACHAN
Publications
GLAD HE
Reflexivity, methodologies and collaboration in art practice: Plough Through and The Air We Breathe - co-written paper due for publication in Innovative Practice in Higher Education in association with GLAD HE
October 2021
CURRENTS
Topography, 2021 featured in Issue 11 of BAIT magazine, in association with New Hall Art Collection
March 2021
SUSTAINABILITY FIRST VIRTUAL BOOK
The air we breathe 2019 featured in virtual book as part of the Sustainable Futures programme
July 2020
GATHERING ZINE - BODY
Bodies of water, 2020 featured in zine as part of the RCA/Design Museum project - Make it Public
July 2020
WAYS OF THINKING
All that remains, 2017 featured in a multi-layered book that explores the ways in which creatives find and make use of inspiration. Published by Ruskin Arts Publications
March 2020
CAN CONFERENCE
Itiswhatitis duo editorial for Cambridge Arts Network Conference programme
February 2020
ROAR
November 2019
The Archive and the Contested Landscape collaborative essay featured in the curated collective publication on art and sustainability. Edited by Rosanna Greaves and Marina Velez. Published by Art.Earth
SARAH STRACHAN
Reviews & interviews
SHEROES IN QUARANTINE
Artist interview as featured in Lon-art Creative's exhibition online
November 2020
VARSITY
Exhibition review of Contingent on carbon (2019) at Queens' Arts Festival, Queens' College, Cambridge
March 2020
CAMBRIDGE INDEPENDENT
Exhibition review of The Art of Watching Art at Motion Sickness Project Space, Cambridge
January 2020
SARAH STRACHAN
Conference & events
UNCOVERED
April 2022
Artists presentation on behalf of Mud Collective with Kelcy Davenport for symposium: How do you research through art? Ruskin Gallery, Cambridge, UK - more info
DIALOGUES SYMPOSIUM
February 2022
Artists presentation on behalf of Mud Collective with Sally Stenton at the GroundWork Gallery, Kings Lynn, UK - more info
CREATIVE ENCOUNTERS
February 2022
Presentation of conversational drift as creative methodology, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge
HEONG GALLERY
September 2021
Of the Earth - materials beneath our feet: clay workshop at the Heong Gallery in Cambrdige - more info
BRITISH SCIENCE FESTIVAL
September 2021
Stories from the earth: clay workshop at the British Science Festival at the Art Hub in Chelmsford - more info
MA FINE ART INTER-INSTITUTIONAL SYMPOSIUM
July 2021
The studio as a vessel - presented at What is the Studio? Symposium hosted by Arts University Bournemouth
GLAD 2021
March 2021
The air we breathe: practices of care - a collaborative conversation presented at GLAD HE Conference - Responding: Reframing: Rethinking - more info
CAMBRIDGE FESTIVAL
March 2021
Mesopotamian mud: A journey through voice and vessel. An audio walk by Geology & Art collboration - mud collective. - more info
CLIMATE CHANGE FESTIVAL
November 2020
BRITISH SCIENCE FESTIVAL
September 2020 [postponed]
Mesopotamian mud: Geology & Art workshop - more info
LONDON CONFERENCE IN CRITICAL THOUGHT
August 2020 [cancelled]
Common Ground between Geology & Art conference stream - more info
CAMBRIDGE SCIENCE FESTIVAL
March 2020 [cancelled]
Mesopotamian Mud: a voyage though voice and vessel - workshop - more info
HAPPY HABITS
February 2020
Holding on school art workshop for Learning Saturday event at Queens' Federation - more info
ARTS FESTIVAL
July 2019
The air we breathe - sustainability & art workshop for Queens' Federation - more info
CAN CONFERENCE
February 2019
Speaker on panel discussion
FESTIVAL OF IDEAS
October 2018
Speaker at symposium: The Archive and the Contested Landscape
SARAH STRACHAN
Awards and honors
SIGNATURE ART PRIZE
Shortlisted
2022
SUSTAINABILITY ART PRIZE
Beyondness, 2022 (shortlisted, exhibited and awarded First Prize)
2022
TEBBS INTERNATIONAL ART PRIZE AWARD
Objects listening I 2020 (shortlisted, and exhibited)
2022
ARTIZAN GALLERY
Exhibition bursary
2021
TEBBS GALLERY
Artist of the Week
2021
VISUAL ART OPEN
Shortlisted artist
2021
FRESH 2021
Objects listening, 2020 (shortlisted, and exhibited)
2021
SIR JOHN HURT ART PRIZE
Conscious crystal, 2020 (shortlisted, and exhibited)
2021
SUSTAINABILITY ART PRIZE
Just a spoonful, 2021 (shortlisted, exhibited and awarded First Prize)
2021
ROYAL SOCIETY OF BRITISH ARTISTS
Deadly metal, 2020 (shortlisted and exhibited)
2021
ROUND LEMON AWARD
Objects listening 2020 (finalist and exhibited online)
2021
ARTNUMBER23 OPEN
Objects listening 2020 (first prize)
2020
SOCIETY OF WOMEN ARTISTS
Precious metal, 2018 (shortlisted and exhibited online)
2020
VISUAL ART OPEN
Shortlisted and commended artist
2020
SUSTAINABILITY FIRST ART PRIZE
The air we breathe, 2019 (shortlisted)
2020
DR SUPANEE GAZELEY FINE ART PRIZE
Objects listening 2020 and Bodies of water 2020 (highly commended)
2020
SUSTAINABILITY ART PRIZE
The library of the future, 2020 (highly commended)
2020
ARTROOMS AWARD - SCULPTURE
Stack (& measure), 2019 (shortlisted)
2019
INSTITUTE OF EAST ANGLIAN ARTISTS OPEN
All that remains, 2017 & Precious metal, 2018 (shortlisted, not hung)
2019
ROYAL SCOTTISH ACADEMY OPEN
Precious metal, 2018 (shortlisted & exhibited)
2019
ROYAL WEST OF ENGLAND ACADEMY OPEN
Precious metal, 2018 (shortlisted, not hung)
2019
RA SUMMER EXHIBITION
Precious metal, 2018 (shortlisted, not hung)
2019
VISUAL ART OPEN PRIZE
Precious metal, 2018 (shortlisted)
2019
SUSTAINABILITY ART PRIZE
The air we breathe, 2019 (shortlisted & exhibited)
2019
RA SUMMER EXHIBITION
All that remains, 2017 (shortlisted, not hung)
2018
VISUAL ART OPEN PRIZE
Wind i,ii,iii, 2018 (shortlisted)
2018
SUSTAINABILITY ART PRIZE
Nature of things, 2018 (shortlisted & exhibited)
2018
SARAH STRACHAN
Education and qualifications
MA FINE ART
Cambridge School of Art, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK.
2020 - 2022
BA (HONS) FINE ART
Cambridge School of Art, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK.
2020
CHARTERED MARKETER
Chartered Institute of Marketing, Cookham, UK.
2005
CIM DIPM IN MARKETING
Cambridge Marketing College, Cambridge, UK.
1999
CIM ADVANCED CERTIFICATE IN MARKETING
Cambridge Marketing College, Cambridge, UK.
1997
BA (HONS) GEOGRAPHY
University of Sheffield, UK
1995
