Linda Bell

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Linda creates large-scale, interactive, and performative sculptural works. Through her multifaceted, experimental approach, Linda explores the sensory nature of materials, such as foil, paper, and fabric. She transforms the materials as they are reshaped and assembled together. The tactile qualities of the materials are vital. Linda seeks out materials that satisfy her need to create certain movements and shapes, which she then repeats to create multiple forms that expand into larger work.

Linda then transforms the work through rigorous movement, interactions, and impromptu performance. Sharing the movement of her sculptural work and the performative experience is crucial to her practice, for Linda to explore the relationship between herself, her work and the viewer or collaborator.

 

Exhibitions

Live Art Events

Biography

Linda has been a resident artist at ActionSpace’s Studio Voltaire studio since 1999. The quality and unique nature of Linda‘s interactive sculptural work is widely recognised with Linda frequently selected for group exhibitions alongside contemporary artists. In 2015 Linda was commissioned with artist Sam Haynes to create a large artwork ‘Stretch and Squeeze’ for the Love Festival at the Southbank Centre. For Radical Craft, an Outside In and Craftspace touring exhibition, Linda screened a film of her interactive hanging sculptures created within Tooting Market for the Wandsworth Arts Fringe in 2012.

Linda is a lead artist for ActionSpace Live, our participatory and live art events programme. Linda has led high energy; big sculpture workshops across London since 2015, sharing her inclusive, interactive art practice with participants of ActionSpace’s Watch This Space events for Wandsworth Arts Fringe, the Royal Academy’s Education department, Fun Palaces, and multiple day centres.

Linda led Cube Station, a live participatory event for Wandsworth Arts Fringe in 2018 at the Pump House Gallery, inviting participants to co-create a large-scale interactive sculptural installation. In 2019 Linda co-led Tube Lines, ActionSpace’s live event for Tate Exchange, Tate Modern alongside artists Nnena Kalu, Pardip Kapil and Mark Lawrence. For Tube Lines Linda created her lengthy sculptural tubes and explored with visitors the potential of movement and interaction with her artwork.

During the Pandemic Linda successfully transferred her participatory / live art practice online and is a lead artist on ActionSpace’s Make It Live digital programme. For Make It Live in 2021 Linda shared her sculptural processes during a series of online workshops and events including A New Direction I Am Festival with SEN students across London and The British Museum’s Get Creative programme with Leonard Cheshire day centres.

In 2022 Linda received 4 commissions to lead multiple in person workshops and produce two significant artworks. The commissions included workshops for The British Museum with Leonard Cheshire and workshops and artwork for A New Direction’s I AM festival with SEN students. Hospital Rooms commissioned Linda to create a film, to go on permanent display at Springfield Hospital in Tooting. The film captures the sculptures and performances Linda created with the participants from the Share Community during a series of live art sharing sessions. Linda also exhibited the film, prior to its permanent installation in the Hospital, at the Studio Voltaire in 2023. In 2022 Linda led Make it Live: Sculpture for Wandsworth Arts Fringe with participants from One Trust day centre and Make It Live showcase event at Battersea Arts Centre with groups from across London attending to work alongside Linda.

Film

https://vimeo.com/171940478

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