cathy hart

London was Cathy’s home when she had her creative renaissance. After taking painting classes, she started building up a portfolio and seized the opportunity to go to Chelsea School of Art to do an art foundation course. She found herself gravitating towards sculpture as the best means of self expression. During her Fine Art Degree at Central St Martins, she began welding to create figurative forms. One night it dawned on Cathy to change her childlike boy’s head into an animal head. This pivotal moment changed her work and she’s been making hybrid creatures ever since. Cathy eschews facial features, instead using animal ears and horns to reference mythology. Her minimal forms are imbued with energy and movement, evoking a playful conversation between the viewer and her work.

Childhood and nostalgia are recurring themes in Cathy’s sculptures. Inspiration ranges from 1970s cartoons, Far Side gallery and the art of clowning.

Whilst welding from her studio space in Peckham, Cathy took part in numerous open studios. She also showcased her funky metal big birds and dogs at Chelsea Flower Show from 2012-14 reaching a wider audience.

Since relocating back to Belfast in 2017, Cathy became a member of Vault Artist Studios which is where she makes her expressive sculptures. Cathy has diversified her art practise to include photography, paintings and ceramic bowls which have been shown regularly at Christmas and summer markets.