Liz West makes intensely coloured installation, video and photographic works from arrangements of found materials and consumer goods. In the work objects are densely arranged and enclosed within constructed spaces, such as cupboards and shelves or in containers such as shopping trolleys and cabinets to form compacted colour masses or gradations. 

West is interested in the aesthetic of densely packed and richly coloured arrangements and displays found in shops, markets and museums. In her work, she creates sensory experiences in the form of richly saturated installations that immerse the viewer in a kaleidoscopic or optical environment. 

Systems of ordering, classification and coding are applied in the development and generation of work. Boundaries are established, which determine both what is collected and where it is collected from.

In a recent series of photographs, manufactured colour found in the urban and domestic environment is grouped together to create colour charts. In these West is interested in the intense and concentrated colour found in synthetic materials and in artificial light.

West is concerned with the psychological influence of colour, its effect and sensory impact upon the viewer. In the installation Yellow Chamber a large collection of yellow objects were positioned to form an ambiguous landscape, produced using numerous mirrors which multiplied and extended the objects through reflection. The colour yellow induces feelings of optimism and warmth, however it is also associated with drug-use and warning-signs, it is overpowering when used in large quantities. 

 Education

• 2007 Bachelor of Fine Art: Sculpture & Environmental Art, Glasgow School Of Art, Glasgow
• 2004 Foundation Diploma in Fine Art, Leeds College Of Art & Design, Leeds

Solo exhibitions

• 2010 La Habana, Sheffield Showcase, Pinstone Street, Sheffield, UK
• 2009 Trolleys, Sheffield Showcase, The Source, Sheffield, UK
• 2007 Painting, Vic Gallery, Glasgow, UK

Selected group exhibitions

• 2010 Core Gallery Open Submission Exhibition (as part of Deptford X Festival)), Core Gallery, London
• 2010 The Ambience of Play, Greenroom, Manchester
• 2010 Art In The Gardens, Botanical Gardens, Sheffield
• 2010 All is Not Lost?, ANNEX21, Worcester
• 2010 London Photography Award (as part of the London Fringe Festival), Bedfordbury Gallery, London
• 2010 Northern Futures Awards, The Civic, Barnsley
• 2010 Collagerie, Stew Gallery, Norwich
• 2010 Worcester Open 2010,  Worcester Arts Workshop, Worcester
• 2010 April Fool!, Art In Unusual Spaces, Leeds Shopping Plaza, Leeds
• 2010 A Moving Exhibition, AVA Gallery, London
• 2009 Drift – The Third Annual Drawing Exhibition, Glasgow School of Art, Glasgow
• 2009 Mini Print 09, Artlink, Hull
• 2009 Conspicuous Consumption, Montgomery’s Café, Glasgow
• 2007 RSA Student Exhibition, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh
• 2006 Show Girls/Show Boys, Barnes Building, Glasgow
• 2006 Sculpture, Newbury Tower, Glasgow
• 2006 Above Ground, The Barnes, Glasgow
• 2005 Urgent, 54 Bell Street, Glasgow
• 2005 If I Had A Hammer, The Barnes, Glasgow
• 2005 Multiples, 9-11 West Graham Street, Glasgow

Awards

• Winner Northern Futures People's Choice Award
• Shortlisted London Photography Award (announced August 26) 

Private collections

• Dusty Sprengnagal, NEON Line, Obere Donaustrasse 45a, A-1020 Vienna 

Curatorial projects

• 2011 SGs Collection, Derry City Museum, Derry, Northern Ireland
• 2011 SGs Collection, Leeds City Museum, Leeds
• 2010 Window, The Source, Sheffield
• 2008 SGs Collection: The Exhibition Re-Worked, Clifton Park Museum, Rotherham
• 2008 SGs Collection: The Exhibition, Cusworth Hall Museum & Park, Doncaster

Artist talks, presentations and teaching

• 2008 Artist’s Talk: Cusworth Hall Musuem & Park, Doncaster, March 06
• 2007 Freelance Tutor: Hird Advertising, Sheffield
• 2006 Artist’s Talk: The Glasgow School Of Art, Glasgow

Interviews, reviews and catalogues 

• 2010 Catalogue, Expectations, Berlin
• 2010 Calatogue, Northern Futures Awards, The Civic, Barnsley
• 2010 Article, The Star, August 16
• 2010 Article, The Chronicle, Mike Cotton, July 30
• 2010 BBC Radio Sheffield, Guest with Rony Robinson, July 26
• 2010 Catalogue, A Moving Exhibition, AVA Gallery, London
• 2009 Catalogue, Conspicuous Consumption, Montgomery’s Café, Glasgow 
• 2009 BBC TV, Curb Your Collection, Pilot
• 2009 BBC Radio Sheffield, Shrines 
• 2009 Interview (video), British Music Experience permanent exhibition, O2 Bubble, London
• 2008 Interview, Rother FM, August 06
• 2008 Review, Yorkshire Post, August 06
• 2008 Interview & Guest, BBC Radio Sheffield with Garath Evans, August 04
• 2008 Review, The Star, Ray Parkin, August 01
• 2008 Review, The Advertiser, Steve Hewitt, August 01
• 2008 Interview, ITV Calendar, January 26
• 2008 Interview, BBC1 Look North, January 25
• 2008 Review, The Sun Newspaper, January 25
• 2008 Interview, Trax FM, January 25
• 2008 Interview, Yorkshire Post, January 25
• 2008 Review, Doncaster News, January 25
• 2008 Review, Free Press, Kate Mason, January 23
• 2008 Review, The Star, Martin Herron, January 09
• 2008 Interview, Hallam FM, January 09
• 2008 Interview, ITV Calendar, January 09
• 2007 Review, The Herald, Jack Mottram, June 15

Personal websites

www.liz-west.com

www.liz-west.co.uk