Current Work

Adele Howitt is based in The East Riding of Yorkshire, England UK. Craft and design remain central to the artist’s practice. Having gained a Distinction for her MA at the UCE, Birmingham, Adele’s line of research continues to celebrate current issues, context and site specific information in her research-driven collaborations. Using traditional materials and techniques for the majority of her public works – hand made tiles, slip casting, ceramic transfer, concrete and tiles – Adele will execute her brief with a purpose that recognises the importance of the wider view of society. Adele Howitt initially trained at the Chelsea School of Art, gaining a BA(hons) in Public Art and Design, and in ceramics at the Guildhall University, London.

Her subsequent work has taken her into the public realm with professionals and people of all ages; she has collaborated with Ideal Standard Bathroom Factory (American Companies) Kingston upon Hull (UK), Groundwork West London, the Commonwealth Institute, Kensington, Arts for the Cultural Advancement through the Visual Arts (ACAVA) London, Staffordshire Moorlands Public Art Programme, and Artlink Exchange, Hull.
Currently, she is working with the NHS and HLM Architects (Sheffield).

Of her recent collaborations, Adele’s involvement with the industrial ceramics company - Ideal Standard Bathrooms – to produce a large series of cast ceramic & resin forms for the client, has set a new bench mark for local public art projects. Prestigious short listings include The Gateway to Yorkshire Iconic Public Art Work, entitled ‘The Giants’ 15m tall, a proposed rendition of the children from Craven Primary School, Hull, cast in bronze and coated in stainless steel.

Adele has exhibited widely, including London and the south-west, the north-west, Yorkshire, and more recently at the prestigious exhibition entitled ‘The Art of Clay, Steninge Slott Kultural Center, Stockholm, Sweden. Flowing between ‘public’ and ‘personal’, between traditional ceramic methods and remaining true to a contemporary view of public design, Adele continues a practice in which her developing ‘exhibition’ work reflects her exposure to the demands and frameworks of her research-driven public work. The intertwining of public and personal works continues to offer the opportunity to access, absorb and utilize the constant flow of available narrative into her favoured ceramic forms.

This then is the nub of Adele Howitt’s art: Intertwining narrative with form, context with method, the artist marks and celebrates human experiences – both public and personal – made solid in clay.

Adele will be exhibiting at the Doncaster Museum and Art Gallery, in 2009

Work can be commissioned directly.

Recent commissions include:
8 ceramic pavement plaques entitled 'Walking with Wilberforce' as part of a trail to celebrate the abolitionists and William Wilberforce, situated around the centre of Kingston upon Hull.

Currently Lead Artist working the NHS and HLM Architects, East Yorkshire.

For more information about Adele Howitt’s work check out the websites:
www.artandhow.co.uk

See Adele's work in the Oncology and Haematology Departments at Castle Hill Hospital,
Cottingham, East Yorkshire - Look North.

BEAM have commissioned me to develop permanent artworks for a new health centre in Barnsley, and to engage with the community to generate ideas for artwork. I've created a blog that documents this process - if you have time, have a look and post what you think! 

Technical Information

Firing at 1280deg. C. and upwards, but occasionally low fire glazes developed to suit specific environments.

History

1988 - Jacob Kramer College of Art, Leeds - Certificate of Foundation Art Studies.
1993 - Chelsea School of Art, London - BA(Hons)
1995 - Guildhall University - Diploma in Ceramics
2006 - 'The Art of Clay' Steninge Slott Kultural Center, Stockholm Sweden
Recently awarded a MA Distinction (Visual Arts: Critical and Contextual Practices) at the UCE Birmingham.

Exhibitions

1993 - 1997 - Various Sculpture Trail Festivals (National & West London)
1993 - 1997 - Exhibitions, Studio Opens and residencies for Primary Schools.
1998 - Private Client commission; Garden Seat, ceramic, tiled, natural form.
1999 - Commissions; Groundwork/ ACAVA, ceramic tiled 'jigsaw' pavementGarden 1999 - Seat, ceramic, tiled, natural form.
2000 - Chelsea Flower Show; Goddess Sculptures. (Bradstone/ Alan Sargeant - Garden Designer)
2001 - Artist in Residence with the Commonwealth Institute, Kensington, at Lena Gardens Primary School, London W12.
2001 - ‘Landscape is a Memory of Former Conditions' - EDGE Ceramics Exhibition, The Gallery, Cork Street, London WC1
2002 - Diary 2000 Exhibition, Amersfoort, Holland.
2002 - Artist in Residence (January - July 2002) with Artlink Exchange, Hull, at Stockwell Primary School. A totla of 28 pieces of permanent art work, ceramic and glass are installed at Stockwell.
2002 - 2003 - Artist in Residence with Issac Newton Community High School, Hull, HU9.
2004 - 2005 - Ideal Standard Bathroom Factory (American Companies Ltd) & Isaac Newton Secondary School, Kingston Upon Hull.

Other Information

I welcome invitations for demonstrations, workshops and residencies. I have a strong experience of working with people, of all abilities and experience, from age of 5 and upwards. Experience of collaborations with other artists on a range of publicised events. I work to commission, although I usually exhibit every year. I have considerable experience and appreciation of working with creative landscapers to combine public/spaces with contemporary art. (Recent examples are Alan Sargeant; Jo Russell (Feng Shui consultant) at Chelsea Flower Show 2000 and Mode 2000.)