
Kelly Gardner
I studied Fine Art Painting & Printmaking at Bretton Hall College, University of Leeds gaining a First Class Honours BA Degree (1995-98) and have an MA in Fine Art from Birmingham City University (2001).
I have always been inspired by collecting and using vintage objects in my work, from fragments of old lace that I printed and bleached on to large scale canvases; christening gowns that I made ghostly photograms from; dress sculptures made from book pages and copper wire and collages incorporating a variety of found objects including buttons, stamps and cigarette cards. Car boot sales and charity shops are my idea of heaven for finding treasures I can use in my work.
It was in 2014 that I first started making mosaics from vintage china. I had always saved pieces of broken china with the intention of one day trying out mosaic. I absolutely loved it. My mosaics are made from china from various eras that has been chipped, broken and discarded. Using tile nippers I hand cut and reconstruct the fragments. I find the patterns on old china very beautiful and evocative. Flora and fauna to patterns from the 1960’s and 70’s are a constant source of inspiration. Rather like a patchwork quilt the china fragments represent memories, each piece has a history, traces and residues of the past.
email: kellyruthgardner@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/kellygardnerartist
![]() Kelly Gardner, Masked Lovebird | ![]() Kelly Gardner, Purple Butterfly | ![]() Kelly Gardner, Burgundy & Turquoise Hear |
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![]() Kelly Gardner, Bluebird | ![]() Kelly Gardner, Red & Green Heart | ![]() Kelly Gardner, Red Admiral |
![]() Kelly Gardner, Red-Throated Bee-Eater | ![]() Bee-eaterBee-eater, China Mosaic, 2017 | ![]() Bee 2018 |
![]() Fox 2018 | ![]() Horse & Leaves, 2018 | ![]() Little Girl with VeilLittle Girl with Veil, book pages, copper wire & found photo |
![]() Baby DressBaby Dress, Photogram | ![]() Lace CollarLace Collar, Photogram | ![]() Snow BuntingSnow Bunting, mixed media collage |
![]() Tiger Moths (detail)Tiger Moths (detail) mixed media collage | ![]() Garden Warbler (detail)Garden Warbler (detail) mixed media collage | ![]() Greenfinch & RosesGreenfinch & Roses, China Mosaic |
![]() Swallowtail & TurquoiseSwallowtail & Turquoise, China Moasic | ![]() Chaffinch & JadeChaffinch & Jade, China Mosaic | ![]() SwallowsSwallows, China Mosaic |
![]() Zebra SwallowtailZebra Swallowtail, China Mosaic | ![]() Blue JayBlue Jay, China Mosaic |