Sheffield’s Rich Traditions: A Compelling Contemporary Metalwork Exhibition

On my recent visit to Sheffield for Cradle of Fire meeting with art mentor Mike Stubbs and a potential new collaborator Jake Harries, I  visited a new exhibition ‘Show your Metal’ in the Millennium Gallery. An outstanding exhibition showcasing  the extraordinary metalworking skills and design of the past and present, including the work of contemporary artists who carry on the rich tradition of making with metal. One of my artist muses is Cornelia Parker and I am thrilled to see some of her works in the show. Her piece ‘Beaten Wedding Ring (1992) is the featured blog image and the more familiar crushed pewter pieces  are equally powerful. New to me, was artist Otbong Nkanga, her freestanding metal sculpture, a large multi layered piece highlights the damage to the environment that excessive mineral extraction can cause.

Artwork by Cornelia Parker in ‘Show your Metal’ exhibition, Millennium Gallery, Sheffield

Knives everywhere!  A close-up of  a large sculpture created with Sheffield cutlery at the entrance of the Millennium Gallery, Sheffield

Solid Manœuvres, 2015 by Otbong Nkanga, a Nigerian artist exhibiting in the Millennium Gallery, Sheffield

Conjunction II, Aluminium wall mounted sculpture, 2019, Mark Firth,  in the Millennium Gallery, Sheffield

Blog by Diana Scarborough