About
Today's 'always on' society can leave many of us feeling stressed and burned out. Imagine you could escape the chaos and hide yourself away, cocooned from the pandemonium of the world outside. Imagine a place where you could reclaim your mind and discover a sense of inner peace for a few precious minutes.
Artist Beata Podstawa channels the human desire for escapism in her work. She constructs 'hideaways' which take the form of hammocks, 'sleeping cubes' and cosy beds which invite us to clamber inside, seek refuge and leave the world behind for a short while. They offer a temporary sanctuary; a womb. Her works, often designed in sunny pastel colours, seek to re-awaken our inner child and our long-dormant sense of wonder and playfulness.
Education
BA (Hons) Fine Art - 1st Class
University of Central Lancashire (2014-2017)
Art & Design (Foundation Entry) - 2:1
University of Central Lancashire (2013-2014)
Art & Design + Media - Distinction
Preston College (2011-2013)
Exhibitions and Residencies
24 Aug - 16 Sep 2023
Paper Forms and Woven Structures solo show in Birley Gallery, Preston
26 Nov - 18 Dec 2022
Christmas Carols series of installations throughout the Astley Hall, Chorley
2 Sept - 30 Sept 2022
The Birley Annual Exhibition group exhibition at The Birley, Preston
15 Jan – 26 Feb 2022
Watch This Space group exhibition at Grundy Gallery, Blackpool
16 Sept - 16 Oct 2019
ESC-006 Launching Tonight solo show at Hanover Project, Preston
8 Mar - 28 Jun 2019
Graduate Artist/Designer in Residence at School of Art Design & Fashion, UCLAN, Preston
20 Jul - 04 Sept 2019
Lancashire Open Exhibition 2019 group exhibition at Chapel Gallery, Ormskirk
17 Nov 2018
Mobile Kiosk for ‘The Dreadnought Project’ group exhibition at The Birley, Preston
31 Mar - 14 May 2018
Swing for ‘And Yet It Moves’ group exhibition at The Royal Standard, Liverpool
April 2016
International Contemporary Artists Book Fair The Tetley, Leeds
March 2016
Best Of Britannia North group exhibition Historic Post Office Building, Flag Market Preston
Other:
2019
Sculpturing experience for ‘Galaxy Box’ by Chris Jones
2017
Sculpturing experience at Block Studios (Sheffield) for the show 'Lay of the land (and other myths)' by Victoria Lucas
Awards
2019
2nd Prize in Lancashire Open Exhibition - Chapel Gallery, Ormskirk
2018
Selected for Propeller Enterprise Award - UCLAN, Preston
2017
Nominated for Steel Prize for Art - UCLAN, Preston
2017
Selected for Class of 2017 - Double Negative: A list of the North West’s Fine Art graduates
Publications
2020
Lancashire Arts Guide to events and exhibitions (Pages 16, 70 & 71)- UCLAN, Preston
https://www5.uclan.ac.uk/sites/ImageBank/Marketing_Image_Library/08143_la_guide_sept19_jan20.pdf
2018
Dreadnaught Day - The Birley
https://www.thebirley.com/blog/dreadnought-day
2018
’And yet it moves’ - A showcase of sculpture in motion - CQC Magazine issue 14
http://ccqmagazine.com/phone/index.html
2017
Class of 2017: The North West’s Top Fine Art Graduates - The Double Negative
http://www.thedoublenegative.co.uk/2017/05/class-of-2017-the-north-wests-top-fine-art-graduates-revealed/
2014
’Mad Cat’ self published book - Presented at International Contemporary Artists Book Fair at The Tetley, Leeds