Serving as acts of dedication, Elizabeth Radcliffe’s weavings memorialise moments in her life, and are imbued with a considerable amount of her labour. There is a striking continuity of concern between works completed four decades ago, based upon waxed motorcycle jackets, and a more recent series that takes tennis wear as its subject. In each, a garment points to the sartorial sensibility of its wearer, and provides a set of material conditions that form the basis of Radcliffe’s enquiry. Highly attentive to the tactile finish of the fabric that she is replicating by other means, she employs a range of materials that are both natural and synthetic. Another distinctive feature of her output, including her most recent offerings, is the use of a shaped silhouette. Appearing as if cut from the fabric of his surroundings, a portrait of Marc Camille-Chaimowicz harbours affinities with the milieu in which her approach was formed; a 1970s Edinburgh populated by figures such as the Pop artist Eduardo Paolozzi and director of the Dovecot Tapestry Studio Archie Brennan. These are points of reference that Radcliffe has absorbed, repurposing them to her own ends. ...
Margot Samel opened in Tribeca, New York, in May 2022, with a commitment to presenting research-driven exhibitions by international artists at all stages of their careers, often debuting their first shows in New York. Originally from Estonia, Margot Samel worked in galleries, museums, and artist-run spaces in Tallinn, Glasgow, and New York for over a decade before opening her eponymous gallery. The inaugural exhibition featured Estonian multidisciplinary artist Kris Lemsalu (b. 1985, Tallinn), whose complex sculptures, installations, and performances blur the boundaries between life and art, setting the tone for a program that embraces experimentation and collaboration across diverse artistic practices. While placing particular emphasis on contemporary artists from the Baltic region, the gallery also works with contemporary and historical artists from international backgrounds. Margot Samel is dedicated to fostering long-term relationships with both emerging and established artists, while collaborating with other galleries to support ambitious exhibitions. ...
