Yorkshire artist hopes to Collect art-world accolades

One of the world’s most influential art fairs has selected a Mirfield sculptor artist as the only Yorkshire-born and raised exhibitor to showcase work at its forthcoming event in London.

Helaina Sharpley, maker of intricate wirework pieces which straddle the boundaries of drawings and sculpture, will make her debut appearance at the 18th edition of Collect: the leading international fair for contemporary craft and design 25 – 27 February.

The art fair founded by the Crafts Council is held in high regard within the arts and design worlds for its discerning selection of craftspeople who present their works to art collectors, museum curators, interiors specialists and design practitioners from all over globe.

Over the last 15 years Helaina has been creating distinctive, small, and large-scale 2D and 3D wire wonders heavily inspired by traditions and architecture of the Victorian and Edwardian eras from her studio at West Yorkshire Print Workshop in Mirfield. Having closely followed the ever-growing popularity of Collect, it was in 2020 that Helaina decided to take the plunge and apply.

After a rigorous application process and two-month wait, her place in Collect Open – the area of the show where individual artists and collaborators can showcase how they are elevating their creativity and practice – was confirmed. Covid had other ideas and delays meant that last year’s event was digital, but the in-person show is finally becoming a reality.

Although two years have passed, Helaina recalls how it was a surreal moment when the call came that she had been chosen. “Collect is the show, which I’d say, a significant number of artists and makers cross their fingers to exhibit at during their career.

“It’s certainly how I view it, as it’s an unrivalled springboard for meeting people who deal in the luxury end of the art and design market and to present what we do best. It’s widely known that most submissions to exhibit are turned down so this a huge moment; a pivotal time for me as I’ve seen how this has been a real game-changer for others.”

Helaina says the phrase ‘go big or go home’ couldn’t be more apt for her upcoming time at Collect and knew she needed to create an all-new installation that would wow, intrigue and ultimately make the viewer happy.

During lockdown and the enforced waiting period for the fair, Helaina spent more time exploring Yorkshire’s rolling hills and took new-found inspiration from the breath-taking views. She explains more: “My designs are usually influenced by trips away, huge buildings and landmarks but when the pandemic created smaller, local boundaries for us all, I began to think about how I could depict rural life and the amazing scenery on my doorstep in a way that would propel me to being bigger, bolder and better with my technique – I needed to re-energise myself as a creative and do something that would stop people in their tracks.”

The result is Drawn into the Distance, where hand-manipulated wire has created a complex and layered suspended installation of her home county’s far-reaching views. The one-off masterpiece made especially for Collect has been an opportunity to release the wirework from the constraints of a board - which her works are usually mounted on – increasing the scale, playing with depth, and pushing the boundaries of the material and her skill.

“I’m really thrilled with the finished article, and you can literally get inside the fields which has a lovely interactive element to it. Being able to present the beauty of Yorkshire to a whole new audience of people at such a prestigious fair is something I can’t wait to experience.” Helaina added.

Collect: the leading international fair for contemporary craft and design opens 25 – 27 February with previews 23 – 24 February at Somerset House. Works will be for sale on artsy.net from 23 February to 6 March 2022.

For more information visit http://www.helainasharpley.co.uk/