Lotti V Closs (b.1987) Lives and works in Stockport, studio holder at Paradise Works in Manchester since 2022. Studied BA fine art at Nottingham Trent 2006-2009 and MFA Sculpture at West Dean 2012-2014, has exhibited across the U.K, and in Mexico City as part of the Architectural Association Visiting School in 2016.
Closs’s work hinges upon an intuitive, playful approach to making, filtered through a distinct surrealistic language. Her material choices reflect the immediacy and intimacy of the handmade, most often chosen for range in working techniques and appearance, others for their seductive tactility. Her current focus is on the development of her process through ceramic sculpture.
She is fascinated in the alien quality of apparent yet indefinable visual information, and the production of language specific to an object, image or environment. Her process-centred practice actively allows personal reflection, material and fabrication methods to equally guide evolving forms. Built works and images are compiled of disparate elements, altered and combined through a series of balanced reactions. Each work reflects a conversation between artist and material, unique to its own accumulative nature. Through a convoy of these physical sketches moments of observation spark tangible associative imagery, from patterns in nature to allusions of utility. Fundamentally, Closs's works are caught moments in evolution, hybrids questioning identity and agency through the material body.
Contact: lottivcloss@gmail.com
Solo Exhibitions
November 2021: TROUPE, Angear Visitor Centre, Lakeside Arts, University of Nottingham
October 2019: New Composites; Minuments and Amalgamates, The Attic, One Thoresby Street, Nottingham
September 2017: In Plain Sight, The Number Shop, Edinburgh
May 2017 In Plain Sight, Castor Projects, Deptford, London
May 2015 MASS, Syson Gallery, High Pavement, Nottingham.
Selected Group Exhibitions
October 2025: The Weightiest Thing In The World, curated by Adam Rawlinson at Paradise Works, Manchester, and The Bankley Open 2025, Manchester.
June 2025: Those Beginning Notes, A Warbling Exhibition, 39a Loughborough Rd, Camberwell, London
March 2025: Weird Hope Engines, Dying Earth Catalogue (collaborative digital animation with Adam James Sinclair and Jamie Sutcliffe), Bonnington Gallery, Nottingham Trent University
August 2024 : At Last It Came Into Focus, A Warbling Exhibition, Greek Street, Soho, London
September 2022 : Bankley Open 2022, Bankley Gallery, Manchester
June 2022 : Thought Forms at PS Mirabel, Manchester
January - March 2020: Habitual, Group Exhibition at Castor Projects, London
June 2018: New Relics, Curated by Tim Ellis and Kate Terry, Thameside Gallery, London.
December 2017: The Ingram Collection Young Contemporary Talent Prize, London.
October 2017: Manchester Contemporary Art Fair with Castor Projects
September 2016: AAVS Las Pozas: Beton Machine III, Galleria Marso, Mexico City, Mexico
January 2016: In The Paravent, The Harley Gallery, The Welbeck Estate, Nottinghamshire
April 2015 – 2016: SUNSCREEN, Online project commissioned by EM15 for the 56th Venice Bienalle
December 2014: Nottingham Castle Open 2014, Nottingham.
September 2014 Collective, The Jerwood Gridshell, Weald and Downland Museum, Sussex
July 2014: THIRTEEN, West Dean Visual Arts Summer Show, West Dean College & Embassy Tea Gallery, Southwark, London
May 2014: Commission for West Dean House, The Edward James Foundation
December 2013 Object Abuse, Spinach, London
July 2013: West Dean Visual Arts Summer Show, The Old Truman Brewery, East London.
October - November 2011: Nottingham Castle Open 2011, Nottingham.
February - March 2011 Pile, Commissioned by Hannah Firth, Head of Visual Arts - Chapter Gallery, Cardiff.
November 2010: Pile, Group exhibition, Surface Gallery, Nottingham. A commissioned project for Sideshow 2010 in partnership with The British Art Show 2010.
Other Creative Credits
2020 - Ongoing -
Assistant digital sculptor to Adam Sinclair for commissioned creative projects and artworks, creating digitally sculpted elements for artists including; Tai Shani, Helen Marten, Magali Reus & Cecile B. Evans.
Education
2012 – 2014 MFA Sculpture, West Dean College, The Edward James Foundation
Grade achieved MFA Sculpture with Distinction
2006 – 2009 BA Fine Art (Hons), Nottingham Trent University
Grade achieved 1st Class Honours
2004 – 2006 National Diploma Fine Art, New College Nottingham
Grade achieved Double Distinction
Awards
January 2015: Winner of the SYSON solo show commission award, in association with the Nottingham Castle Open
July 2014: Sussex University Vice-Chancellors Award 2014, for exceptional performance on the MFA programme
April 2014: Shortlisted for the Bloomberg New Contemporaries 2014
September 2014-2015: Elected as member of the Royal British Society of Sculptors
Residencies / Visiting Schools
October 2018: Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop, 1 Month self-led residency
August 2016: Architectural Association Visiting School Las Pozas: Neoabstractionism, Mexico
June 2016: Desk Space Residency, The Old Fire Station, Oxford
Publications/Press
October 2018: Close Eclogues: A Response To Mass By Lotti V Closs, By Patrick Farmer, Compost & Height Publishing
March 2016: Jungle Magazine: The Uncovered Edition, Artist Feature and Interview
May 2015: Young Artists in Conversation Online Interview (http://youngartistsinconversation.co.uk/)
