With a practice spanning ceramics, works on paper, photography and video, Karen Densham combines kitsch with satire. Her work aims to challenge assumptions about the world around us. Seemingly innocent, ornamental objects destined for the mantel soon reveal hidden meanings and greater complexity, confronting issues around sexual desire, military campaign planning, the refugee crisis and capitalism. Using items found on eBay, charity shops or car boot sales, Denham recreates these in clay or watercolour, transforming them into objects with double meaning. Always with a touch of humour, her work forces closer inspection, uncovering light-hearted and mischievous subversion at play.
WHEN ARMEGEDDON STRIKES AND INVENTION AND RESOURCEFULNESS ARE A REQUIREMENT FOR SURVIVAL, I WILL BE SEEN CLINGING TO HER, OFFERING MYSELF UP AS HER ASSISTANT.
– TERRY BOND
'Cart Before Horse', 2020
“KAREN’S TWEE, KITSCH CERAMICS, AND HER SUBTLE, DELICATE WATERCOLOURS WITH UNDERTONES OF SEXUALITY AND FRUSTRATION, SPEAK TO THE EXPERIENCE OF MANY WOMEN. HER WORK NEEDS TO BE SHOWN.”
– RICHARD SALTOUN