Revolve Gallery

Susan Meyerhoff Sharples

Following a successful career in commerce, Susan trained in textiles 1998 and was selected as one of the top 30 graduates in the country. She continued her studies undertaking a John Moores University degree in Fine art, achieving a first class Batchelor of Arts with Honours in 2003. She was awarded a one year Fellowship at Wirral Art School, where she remained for a further three years as a 3-D specialist art tutor. Susan now works full time from her studios in the Wirral.

Susan’s sculptures appear in private collections and exhibitions including: The World Museum, Liverpool; The Leonardo Centre, Neston, Wirral; Hope University, Liverpool; The Academy of Arts, Liverpool; Simmonscourt, Dublin; Alexandra Palace, London.

Inspiration

Evolution inspires Susan’s work, focusing on complex repetitive structures within natural forms and the primal instinct for survival achieved via diversity and adaptation. She creates hybrid sculptural forms and wall based relief works that expose a glimpse of evolutionary fantasy, suggesting relationships between ancient organisms and their modern descendants.

State of Ambiguity Series

These sculptures bare no recognisable classification or species yet carry organic characteristics and are influenced by evolutionary processes. The identities of these pieces are intentionally ambiguous, inviting the viewers’ interpretation of the sculptures.

State of Ambiguity IX

"The idea was conceived after observational studies of trees shedding their autumnal leaves, the force of nature’s breeze gently carrying them pirouetting across the ground."

State of Ambiguity X

"Inspiration was drawn from buds at various stages of opening, cautiously unfolding to reveal the beauty of its fragile flowers."

Metamorphic Form

"This was created as a result of stumbling across fallen rocks strewn on a beach below coastal cliffs. These unique ancient forms contain many layered histories within the strata of compressed sand."

From Sketch to Sculpture

"My initial ideas take the form of drawings, observational sketches which are often developed into sculptural sketches in wire, thus exploring the three dimensional form from many angles. Experimentation follows, drawing from an extensive dictionary of materials; I explore the full potential of selected mediums in order to portray my concept. On resolving all sculptural problems and selecting the appropriate materials, I begin the piece often in the form of a maquette, a miniature version of the sculpture. The final sculptures are realised through the processes of welding, fabrication and construction, skills generally used within the engineering or craft industries. Large scale sculptures are created using the technique of a smaller maquette which is scaled up to its intended sculptural dimensions during fabrication."