Halima Cassell: dreams made manifest

3 March - 23 May 2009

Halima Cassell is one of the UK's leading young ceramic artists. Born in Pakistan and brought up in Manchester and her current hometown of Blackburn, Halima now exhibits her acclaimed ceramics throughout the world.

Dreams Made Manifest is her largest solo exhibition to date and includes examples of her trademark carved ceramic vessels, alongside a series of new bronzes and sculptural work. Highly sought after by collectors worldwide, she has been commissioned to produce works for numerous municipal collections, including most recently a major new piece for the new Hepworth art centre in Wakefield.

Halima's recent work explores traditional sculptural concerns of form and material, and a dialogue between the geometric patterns present in her earlier work and more organic flowing lines developed over the past few years. Also on display are new experimental works in brick and new sculptures based on works broken in the firing process.

During August and September 2008, supported by a grant from Arts Council England, Halima worked as 'Artist in Residence' at 20-21 Visual Arts Centre in Scunthorpe. She created new works in response to the architecture of the former church building housing the gallery, including sculptures in stone and wood. Sacred conversation, a group of brick seating sculptures on display in this exhibition is a notable example of this.

Halima's work transcends the boundaries between fine art and craft. She combines a natural and unreserved creative flair and feel for materials with a rich cultural and sculptural heritage. Whilst being both complex and simple, her work is more joyous than laboured, and has proved popular with enthusiasts and casual visitors alike.