User Account

Helen Gorrill
Interview
What is your favourite film of all time?
Piero Schivazappa's Femina Ridens/The Frightened Woman (1969) featuring the brilliant Niki de Saint Phalle's vagina dentata
What music are you currently listening to and why?
Kurt Elling - I've just been to see him in Soho at Ronnie Scotts - he was utterly amazing!!
Which living artists do you most admire and why?
Martin Firrell - I was blown away by When the world`s run by fools it`s the duty of intelligence to disobey (projection onto the Houses of Parliament) - this piece changed my life and gave me the guts to stand up for what I believe in. The first time I saw this, I was in art school and the all-male tutors refused to let me work with issues surrounding gender or feminism. I walked out and went on to get a First Class elsewhere working with gender/feminist concepts and am so glad I stuck to my guns. To me, art school should be about challenging norms, rules and advice, not following like sheep, creating copycat, meaningless work that won't stand the test of time.
Jim Fitzpatrick - Obviously for the Che Guevera piece. But he also sent me a lovely email after my work had been in the Guardian, and helped me to believe in myself. I think the email went along the lines of 'Great art takes an age to be appreciated. Don't be surprised if not many people like it straight away. I would like to see it on a bigger stage.' Made my day: Top bloke!!!
Carolyn Weltman, New York artist who I had the pleasure to spend a day with last year.
Chad McCail - I hugely admire his work, but he was also the toughest, probably the best life drawing tutor in the world. Big respect!
Tracey Emin - hers was the first exhibition that made me cry (the retrospective in Edinburgh); in particular her work on motherhood and abortion.
Bracha Ettinger for her work on the matrixial borderspace and for being utterly charming as a person.
And all the other amazing artists who collaborated and contributed to my Benedict XVI Confession Chamber, invited to be part of the Elizabeth A Sackler Centre for Feminist Art and archived at the Brooklyn Museum in New York: Alexis Hunter, Alicia Ross, Allyson Mitchell, Angela Kingston, Annie Sprinkle, Bethany Murray, Bob & Roberta Smith, Carolyn Weltman, Catherine Opie, Charles Moffat, Chila Burman, Clare Price, Del la Grace Volcano, Hayden Kays, Jaclyn Santos, Jeff Bienvenido Pena, Jennie Bringaker, Jenny Edbrooke, Jess Larson, Jim Fitzpatrick, Julie Verhoeven, Kate Gilmore, Kate Marshall, Khaled Hafez, Langlands & Bell, Melanie Manchot, Miriam Elia, Nancy Davidson, Paul Kindersley, Peggy Ahwesh, Phil Sayers, Sara Rahbar, Sarah Lederman, Sarah Maple, Susie Vickery, The Guerrilla Girls, Ximena Garrido-Lecca and the Turner prize nominees who wished to remain anonymous.
Which deceased artist do you most admire and why?
Francis Bacon - I was lucky enough to meet him many, many years ago
Which exhibition that you have visited made the greatest impact on you and why?
Elles@pompidou in Paris, curated by Camille Morineau - for consigning to storage nearly all its work by male artists and rehanging its permanent collection to show only female artists.
What is the question you get asked most frequently about your work and how do you answer it?
People are often surprised that I am not very confident as a person as some of my work would suggest otherwise.
What / who inspired you to be an artist?
Francis Bacon.
Can you tell us about where you make your art and what if any the significance of this location is?
I now have a studio in my home, as I like the option of working day and night if I need to.
What do you like most about being an artist?
Challenging existing social norms and tackling taboo subjects.
What is your greatest achievement as an artist to date?
Excited beyond belief to being invited by the curator of Brooklyn Museum in New York to have my Benedict XVI Confession Chamber archived in their Elizabeth A Sackler Center for Feminist Art.
What are your plans for the coming year?
I am currently painting with Collage and becoming absolutely obsessed by this medium.
I have got 3 solo shows lined up for the next 3 years, so am working towards those, as well as exhibiting internationally again in the United Arab Emirates and Paris.
Latest artwork - View all by this artist
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Domestic Goddess iiSize(HxWxD):84x59x0cm£665.00
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Domestic Goddess iSize(HxWxD):84x59x0cm£665.00
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OtildeSize(HxWxD):52.5x52.5x4cm£495.00
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PRINT: The VirginSize(HxWxD):84x39x0cm£250.00
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Urban Collage: Bad TripSize(HxWxD):60x60x1.5cm£650.00
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Urban Collage: HuneeSize(HxWxD):60x60x1.5cm£650.00
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Urban Collage: Ibizan FeverSize(HxWxD):60x60x1.5cm£650.00
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The assumption of Pope Pius iiiSize(HxWxD):80x50x0cm£250.00
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Elle, ii (Paris)Size(HxWxD):30x22.5x1.5cm£195.00
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Elle, i (Paris)Size(HxWxD):52.5x52.5x4.5cm£495.00
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PRINT: Untitled 3 (Deconstruction of...Size(HxWxD):84x49x0.1cm£250.00
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PRINT: Untitled 7 (Deconstruction of...Size(HxWxD):84x49x0.1cm£250.00
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PRINT: Salome dancing iSize(HxWxD):84x49x0.1cm£250.00
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AmalieSize(HxWxD):52.5x52.5x4.5cm£499.00
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Aleksandra with childSize(HxWxD):52.5x52.5x4.5cm£499.00
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DanaSize(HxWxD):52.5x52.5x4.5cm£499.00
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'Arthur', with Vivienne...Size(HxWxD):52.5x52.5x4.5cm£499.00
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MarciaSize(HxWxD):52.5x52.5x4.5cm£499.00
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Aleksandra with childSize(HxWxD):52.5x52.5x4.5cm£499.00
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GalaSize(HxWxD):52.5x52.5x4.5cm£499.00
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AgnesSize(HxWxD):52.5x52.5x4.5cm£499.00
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BrigitaSize(HxWxD):52.5x52.5x4.5cm£499.00
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SonjaSize(HxWxD):52.5x52.5x4.5cm£499.00
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MagdaleneSize(HxWxD):52.5x52.5x4.5cm£499.00
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ZuzanaSize(HxWxD):52.5x52.5x4.5cm£499.00
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Katarina,Size(HxWxD):52.5x52.5x4.5cm£499.00
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Romana en ParisSize(HxWxD):52.5x52.5x4.5cm£499.00
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PRINT: Untitled 5 (deconstruction of...Size(HxWxD):84x49x0cm£250.00
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PRINT: Salome dancing IISize(HxWxD):84x49x0cm£250.00
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PRINT: Untitled 8 (Deconstruction of...Size(HxWxD):84x49x0cm£250.00
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Fushe Kosove Sex Cafe ChairSize(HxWxD):83x93x74cm£2,500.00
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Synchronised SwimmersSize(HxWxD):121x84x5cm£1,250.00
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Salome dancing, iiSize(HxWxD):249x0.1x141cm£1,195.00
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PRINT: Salome with the head of St JohnSize(HxWxD):84x49x0cm£250.00
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PRINT: Untitled 6 (Deconstruction of...Size(HxWxD):84x49x0cm£250.00
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PRINT: Untitled 4 (Deconstruction of...Size(HxWxD):84x49x0cm£250.00
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PRINT: Untitled 2 (deconstruction of...Size(HxWxD):84x49x0cm£250.00
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PRINT: Untitled 1 deconstruction of the...Size(HxWxD):84x49x0cm£250.00
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The Assumption of Pope Pius IX (ii)Size(HxWxD):80x50x0cm£250.00
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The Assumption of Pope Pius IX (i)Size(HxWxD):80x50x0cm£250.00
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Benedetto XVI (Gli Amici di Gesu)Size(HxWxD):50x70x0.1cm£250.00
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Untitled 7 (Deconstruction of the...Size(HxWxD):280x115x0.2cm£1,195.00
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Untitled 4 (Deconstruction of the...Size(HxWxD):239x120x1cm£1,150.00
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Untitled 1 deconstruction of the VirginSize(HxWxD):248x120x0.2cm£1,195.00
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Untitled 2 (deconstruction of the...Size(HxWxD):215x135x0.2cm£1,195.00
Artist's statement
Helen Gorrill’s work is held in private collections worldwide and now included in New York Brooklyn Museum’s Elizabeth A Sackler Center Feminist Art archive, alongside icons The Guerrilla Girls, Tracey Emin, Annie Sprinkle, Miriam Schapiro, Judy Chicago and Pipilotti Rist. Having already gained national and international press attention for her controversial drawings, this year Gorrill has exhibited in London, Paris and Dubai, and has further shows planned in the Middle East and New York later in the year. In 2011, she was shortlisted for the Cartazini Award in Paris, and in 2012, shortlisted for Passion for Freedom award, with work exhibited at Unit 24 Gallery, adj Tate Modern. Gorrill's international artist residencies(accomplished/confirmed) include Paris (2011), Isle of Skye (2012), the Czech Republic (2012), Paris (2013), Milan (2013), Naples/Ischia (2013), New York (2013), New York - Brooklyn (2014).
Exhibitions
The Crypt Gallery, Sweet'Art Collective Show, London
Beetroot Tree Gallery, Helen Gorrill feature artist, Derbyshire
Unit 24 Gallery, Great Guildford St, London, Passion for Freedom 2012, London
The Affordable Art Fair 2012, Battersea
The Affordable Art Fair 2012, Hampstead
Funoon Gallery, United Arab Emirates, Womart #2, Dubai
Crocus Gallery, The Drawing Exhibition, Nottingham
New York: Brooklyn Museum (Elizabeth Sackler Centre), selected for feminist art archive, New York
London's West Bank Gallery, Religionis Violenta, London
The Execution Room, 20:12Collective, London
The Brickyard: The Happening: Andy Warhol & Velvet Underground multimedia madness, Carlisle
Galerie HorsChamp, Exposition Georges Bataille, Paris
International Centre for Life Museum, Inverventions, Newcastle (with Christine Borland symposium)
DegreeArt Gallery, solo show DEICIDE, London
FineArte Gallery, 21st Century Pin-ups, Bond St London
FineArte Gallery, 21st Century Pin-ups, Paris
FineArte Gallery, 21st Century Pin-ups, Southend on Sea
Axis Arts Centre, Flout, Crewe
The Gallery Stoke Newington, I-Sho: I's She's Her's Our's; London
Business Design Centre, New Designers 2011, London
Faculty of the Arts, Emerge 2011, Carlisle
Salon Contemporary, Artist of the Week debut show, Westbourne Grove, London
Bank Gallery, The Vault 3, Carlisle
The Gallery, Open Your Mind exhibition, Hong Kong
Islington Metal Works, Censored Zine, London
Tempa Tempa at The Griffin, Pincredible exhibition, Carlisle
Centre for Recent Drawing, Box of Desires II, London
Mona House Gallery, The Body Collective II, Morecambe
Northend House Gallery, Enlightenment exhibtion, Milton Keynes
Bank Gallery, First Impressions exhibition, Carlisle
DegreeArt.com, A Crash Course in Phantasy, Vyner Street, London
Low Luckens Organic Resource Centre, Drawings and ink paintings solo show, Cumbria
Mona House Gallery, The Body Collective I, Morecambe
Bank Gallery, Summer Academy Show, Carlisle
APW Gallery NYC, A Postcard says 1000 Words, New York
Faculty of the Arts, The Seven Deadly Sins, Carlisle
Hoopers Department Store, Environment exhibition, Carlisle
Bodhi Gallery, Sex is not the Enemy, London
Caldewgate Fine Art, Morgue Studies, Carlisle
Caldewgate Fine Art, The Draughtsman Fine Art Drawings, Carlisle
Shaddon Mill, Stead McAlpin Creative Travel Award and Burnetts Drawing Award solo, Carlisle
Achievements & Awards
Recently sold artwork
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Marbs Mayhem i (postcard series)Size(HxWxD):10x15x0cm
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Urban Collage: Mansworld 6Size(HxWxD):50x50x0.5cm
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Urban Collage: Mansworld 5Size(HxWxD):50x50x0.5cm
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Urban Collage: Mansworld 4Size(HxWxD):50x50x0.5cm
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Urban Collage: Mansworld 3Size(HxWxD):50x50x0.5cm
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Urban Collage: Mansworld 2Size(HxWxD):50x50x0.5cm
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Urban Collage: Mansworld 1Size(HxWxD):50x50x0.5cm
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La Parisienne, iiSize(HxWxD):61x43x0cm
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La Parisienne, iSize(HxWxD):61x43x0.1cm
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PRINT: 'Katarina'Size(HxWxD):30x30x0.1cm
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PRINT: 'Arthur'Size(HxWxD):30x30x0.1cm
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ElissaSize(HxWxD):52.5x52.5x4.5cm
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LanaSize(HxWxD):52.5x52.5x4.5cm
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Otilde, Constructed Female collageSize(HxWxD):52.5x52.5x4.5cm
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TeodoraSize(HxWxD):52.5x52.5x4.5cm
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Untitled 8 (Deconstruction of the Virgin)Size(HxWxD):276x1x115cm
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Untitled 3 (Deconstruction of the Virgin)Size(HxWxD):259x141x0.2cm
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The Virgin (Isaiah 7:14)Size(HxWxD):256x114x0.2cm
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Untitled 6 (Deconstruction of the Virgin)Size(HxWxD):265x141x0.2cm
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Salome with the head of St JohnSize(HxWxD):207x119x0.2cm
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Salome dancing for the head of St John, ISize(HxWxD):240x115x0.2cm
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Benedict XVI Re:bound (Ball Gag Pope)Size(HxWxD):30x120x2cm
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Would he make a Good Wife 1Size(HxWxD):120x80x0cm
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UntitledSize(HxWxD):220x120x0cm
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Selling Olga, Sex Trafficking series 1Size(HxWxD):220x0x120cm
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WhistlejacketSize(HxWxD):160x0x160cm
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Would SheSize(HxWxD):220x0x160cm











































































