Claire Bentley-Smith
Unmanaged Reproach

Holbeck In Doom.jpg

PREVIEW
Friday 17th May | 7:30pm - 9:30pm

  • Sunday 19th May | 2pm - 4pm
    Monday 20th May | 11am - 2pm
    Thursday 23rd May | 11am - 2pm
    Sunday 26th May | 2pm - 4pm
    Monday 27th May | 11am - 2pm
    Thursday 30th May | 11am - 2pm

    Exhibition Remains Open By Appointment until…

    Monday 10th June

    Lunchtime Conversation: Claire Bentley-Smith

    Monday 3rd June | 12pm - 3pm

  • Claire Bentley-Smith is an artist who lives and works in South Leeds. Examples of her work as a prop maker and commercial artist have been seen centre stage at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in the form of a life size replica of The Duke of Wellington statue and her murals and window paintings can be found at many bars, events and eateries across Leeds and beyond.

Unmanaged Reproach: an essay

Unmanaged Reproach looks at the more personal aspects of the work of Claire Bentley-Smith. Over the last year she has focused on making a series of paintings and sculptural objects in response to the societal challenges affecting the Holbeck & Beeston community which in turn became a contemplation of her own experiences of life, growing up abroad then living, working and raising a family in South Leeds. This body of work looks at the debate, dilemmas and difficulties around inner city living in the 21st Century. 

Unexpectedly, this process became a catalyst to dredge the remnants of my own challenging childhood and 20s and I found many common themes between my experiences and those of the girls trapped in the street sex trade . . .Claire Bentley-Smith