Heather Gentleman is from Toronto, Canada and came to Chelsea to study a postgraduate degree in Fine Art. While she prepares for the show she told us about her focus on painting and sculpture, as well as her plans for when she gets back to Toronto.
Describe your experience at Chelsea in 3 words
Transformative, Rewarding, Fun
Please tell us about your work over the last year
I focused primarily on painting and sculpture this year. I allowed myself a lot of space to experiment with different approaches to painting stylistically. I worked in ceramics and metal as well which were both new mediums for me.
Please tell us about your work for the final show
I have a large-scale painting with a ceramic sculpture in front of it that read as one installation. I am also working with fabrics with poetry hung on the pole in my space as the secondary part of the installation.
What was your greatest challenge in working towards the degree show?
Creating a large ceramic figurative sculpture. It was my first ceramic and very complicated. A lot could have gone wrong in the firing and glazing but it turned out well, thankfully.
What do you see yourself doing after you graduate, what are your career ambitions?
I will continue to exhibit and teach in Toronto when I get back. My aspirations are to secure sessional teaching positions at a University in Toronto. I would also like to find representation in London, UK.
What have you enjoyed most about studying at Chelsea?
The opportunity to move from painting studio to ceramic or metal workshop to library with ease.
What have you most enjoyed about the area around Chelsea? Any tips?
I was very focused on the environment at school but of course, I thoroughly enjoyed The Morpeth Arms and The Grosvenor with my fellow classmates.
Check out more of Heather’s work
Read more about MA Fine Art
Explore last year’s MA Fine Art Postgraduate Summer Show