Martin Staniforth
I am fascinated by the natural process of renewal, the circle of life. Life follows death follows life, as sure as day follows night follows day. My creative practice focuses on emergence, regeneration and natural progression, drawing influences from nature and mankind’s experience of nature. My sculptures build a sense of hope.
A media-neutral sculptor (working in a variety of materials including 500-year-old burnt wood, clay, bronze) and a creative facilitator incorporating community workshops, original music compositions and contemporary dance into sculpture installations.
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Vita
1980s - designed bits of production line at Austin Rover
1990s - advertising agencies (Saatchi & Saatchi) where I learnt to distil complex narratives into simple, snappy stories
2000s
- studied sculpture from life at Harrow College
- Foundation Diploma in Art and Design at West Dean College of Arts & Conservation
- printmaking at Double Elephant in Exeter, exploring social narrative
- creative workshops at Southbank Centre Being A Man Festival, in schools in the USA and Spain for Apps For Good, with the board of Unilever and the global team of the Dove Self-Esteem Project and with clients of charities SAFE (against domestic violence), Headway Devon (brain injury), United Response (learning difficulties) and Hikmat (refugees).
2017
- co-founded Creative Beings CIC, a social enterprise that helps to “cultivate creative practices for wellbeing”
- devised and led the integrated ‘Hope & Renewal’ arts project, including sculpture installation, community workshops and a national photographic competition
- 4-metre high sculpture was awarded top prize at TRAIL outdoor exhibition
2019 - elected chair of South West Sculptors.
2020/21 - multi-media arts project, Resurgo / Scension
1990s - advertising agencies (Saatchi & Saatchi) where I learnt to distil complex narratives into simple, snappy stories
2000s
- studied sculpture from life at Harrow College
- Foundation Diploma in Art and Design at West Dean College of Arts & Conservation
- printmaking at Double Elephant in Exeter, exploring social narrative
- creative workshops at Southbank Centre Being A Man Festival, in schools in the USA and Spain for Apps For Good, with the board of Unilever and the global team of the Dove Self-Esteem Project and with clients of charities SAFE (against domestic violence), Headway Devon (brain injury), United Response (learning difficulties) and Hikmat (refugees).
2017
- co-founded Creative Beings CIC, a social enterprise that helps to “cultivate creative practices for wellbeing”
- devised and led the integrated ‘Hope & Renewal’ arts project, including sculpture installation, community workshops and a national photographic competition
- 4-metre high sculpture was awarded top prize at TRAIL outdoor exhibition
2019 - elected chair of South West Sculptors.
2020/21 - multi-media arts project, Resurgo / Scension
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Exhibitions
Jun 2022
Thelma Hulbert Gallery, Honiton
Apr 2022
Delamore Arts, Ivybridge
Jan 2022
Aldingbourne public Art Commission shortlist, West Sussex
Nov 2021
University of Exeter
Oct 2021
Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital
Jun 2021
Exeter Cathedral: sculpture + soundscape + dance + workshops
May 2021
Delamore Arts
Oct 2020
Symondsbury Gallery, Bridport
Sep 2020
Langmoor and Lister Gardens, Lyme Regis
Nov 2019
Town Mill Gallery, Lyme Regis (joint show)
May 2019
Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Hampshire
Apr 2019
University of Bristol Botanic Gardens
Nov 2018
South West Academy, Exeter Castle
Oct 2018
TAAG, Teignmouth
Jul 2018
Telegraph’s Ways With Words, Dartington
Jun 2018
LIVE at Walcot Chapel, Bath
May 2018
Thelma Hulbert Gallery, Honiton
Mar 2018
Our eARTh, Kunsthuis Gallery, Yorkshire
Nov 2017
South West Academy, Exeter Castle
Oct 2017
Wirksworth Heritage Centre shortlist, Derbyshire
Jul 2017
TRAIL top prize, Teignmouth lighthouse
Jun 2017
Powderham Castle
Jun 2017
Beehive, Honiton; CoLab, Exeter
May 2017
Cathedral Green, Exeter
Apr 2017
Spanish Barn, Torre Abbey, Torquay
May 2016
Redefining Print Exeter Portfolio
Mar 2016
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC
Mar 2016
Kaleider, Exeter
Sep 2015
Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter
Jun 2014
Gallerie Du Grotesque, Walsall
Apr 2014
Thelma Hulbert Gallery, Honiton
Thelma Hulbert Gallery, Honiton
Apr 2022
Delamore Arts, Ivybridge
Jan 2022
Aldingbourne public Art Commission shortlist, West Sussex
Nov 2021
University of Exeter
Oct 2021
Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital
Jun 2021
Exeter Cathedral: sculpture + soundscape + dance + workshops
May 2021
Delamore Arts
Oct 2020
Symondsbury Gallery, Bridport
Sep 2020
Langmoor and Lister Gardens, Lyme Regis
Nov 2019
Town Mill Gallery, Lyme Regis (joint show)
May 2019
Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Hampshire
Apr 2019
University of Bristol Botanic Gardens
Nov 2018
South West Academy, Exeter Castle
Oct 2018
TAAG, Teignmouth
Jul 2018
Telegraph’s Ways With Words, Dartington
Jun 2018
LIVE at Walcot Chapel, Bath
May 2018
Thelma Hulbert Gallery, Honiton
Mar 2018
Our eARTh, Kunsthuis Gallery, Yorkshire
Nov 2017
South West Academy, Exeter Castle
Oct 2017
Wirksworth Heritage Centre shortlist, Derbyshire
Jul 2017
TRAIL top prize, Teignmouth lighthouse
Jun 2017
Powderham Castle
Jun 2017
Beehive, Honiton; CoLab, Exeter
May 2017
Cathedral Green, Exeter
Apr 2017
Spanish Barn, Torre Abbey, Torquay
May 2016
Redefining Print Exeter Portfolio
Mar 2016
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC
Mar 2016
Kaleider, Exeter
Sep 2015
Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter
Jun 2014
Gallerie Du Grotesque, Walsall
Apr 2014
Thelma Hulbert Gallery, Honiton
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Publications
BBC Spotlight
ITV Westcountry
The Guardian
The Telegraph
Devon Life
ITV Westcountry
The Guardian
The Telegraph
Devon Life
Scension 170_Maria
Life-sized figurative aluminium mesh with willow weaving and teased muslin
Martin Staniforth, Metall, Naturstoffe
Martin Staniforth, Metall, Naturstoffe
Persephone
Life-sized figurative sculpture showing exterior confidence and beauty while hinting at interior vulnerabilities
Martin Staniforth, Bronze
Martin Staniforth, Bronze
Achilles
Bronze torso showing exterior strength while hinting at interior vulnerability
Martin Staniforth, Bronze
Martin Staniforth, Bronze
Vulnerability
Figure peering over the edge
Martin Staniforth, Bronze
Martin Staniforth, Bronze
Scension (grounded)
Woven willow with hazel and cherry
Martin Staniforth, Holz, Mixed Media
Martin Staniforth, Holz, Mixed Media
Hope & Renewal
Burnt 500-year-old timbers from Britain's oldest hotel
Martin Staniforth, Holz, Naturstoffe
Martin Staniforth, Holz, Naturstoffe
Scension (dance)
Contemporary dance performance (1 of 7) in response to a soundscape composition as part of Scension sculpture installations
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAehxoKh8EI
Martin Staniforth, Performance, Installation
Martin Staniforth, Performance, Installation
Tree Of Hope
Laser-cut birch tree covered in 'leaves of hope' that were made in community workshops. The tree has been displayed, and added to, in Arts Centres, a Cathedral, a University and a major Hospital
Martin Staniforth, Holz, Mixed Media
Martin Staniforth, Holz, Mixed Media