Lily German is an artist based in London. Her work explores the shared fragilities and tactility of wet clay, ceramic and the voice.
Drawing from memories of mud walks along the Thames riverbed, German solidifies passing, palpable, bodily moments and movements into her work; hands push in, fingers break through the clay’s cold flesh. Each mark made remains, becomes preserved in ceramic form.
Pressing at the limits of material, German’s sculptures hold within them the anticipation of their own breaking. Made to lean, to slump — resting close and in precarious positions — they wait. In performance, breath interjects, builds upon their posture. Like clay, the voice breaks, is vulnerable if not supported. At times guttural and other times soft, whispering, German uses elements of the sung and spoken to communicate emotion and physicality.
Across German’s practice, material, objects, breath are given support, only to a point: ever present in the work is a sense of control that German holds over their potential collapse.
For all enquiries please get in touch by email lily.german[at]hotmail.co.uk. Follow me on Instagram for regular updates.
Selected Shows
Solo
2018 Relics: a solo exhibition of sculpture and drawing at Colfe’s School, London.
2017 Bend, Lean, Slump: a solo exhibition of clay forms, Colfe’s School, London.
Group
2022 The Duchy, group exhibition curated by Anna Woodward at ARC Padstow, Cornwall.
2021 We Lifted the Earth, an exhibition with Alice Hartley and Sebastian Sochan at Gerald Moore Gallery, London.
2021 Bigger Pleasures, All Mouth Gallery, Online via The Auction Collective.
2021 Back to Back: Sophie Vallance Cantor and Lily German at Bowes-Parris Gallery, London.
2020 Losing Touch, an exhibition with Alice Hartley and Sebastian Sochan at Gerald Moore Gallery, London.
2019 matter(ing), an exhibition with Abigail Brothers and Sebastian Sochan at Platform Southwark, London.
2018 Gentle Bodies, Perception (2021 Concerts) at APT Gallery, London.
2017 Performance Auction at New Shoreditch Theatre, London.
2017 Dilbings, 48 Poland Street Soho, London.
2017 PerformanceClub Cabaret (Art Licks Weekend) at Livesey Exchange, London.
2017 S I N K, an exhibition with Hannah Wilson at Safehouse 1, Maverick Projects, London.
2016 Goldsmiths BA Fine Art Degree Show 2016 / Goldsmiths, University of London.
Residencies
2020 Artist in Residence, Art Kids Digital, July 2020.
2016 – 2018 Artist in Residence at Colfe’s School, London.
Awards
2023 Departmental Research Support Award – Goldsmiths, University of London
2020 Time, Space, Money – A/N The Artists Information Company
Collaborative workshops and walks
2018 ‘Fleshing Board’ workshop in collaboration with Louise Ashcroft for Deptford X.
2018 Artist-led walk to Crossness Pumping Station with Chris Waite. In collaboration with Crossness Engines Trust and Totally Thames 2018. Photography by Rosie Lonsdale.
Education
BA Fine Art, Goldsmiths, University of London, 2013-16 (First Class)
Foundation Art & Design, University of the Creative Arts (Farnham), 2012-13
Interviews
Procrastinarting, Interview, March 2021
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CV on request, please contact by email.
Lily German 