{{short description|British visual artist (born 1988)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} '''Natalie Finnemore''' (born 1988) is a British visual artist who creates sculptural installations. Finnemore's artistic practice utilises drawing, printmaking, painting and sculpture. Her sculptural work is influenced by design, and explores the viewer's expectations or relationship with form, function and play.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-02-13|title=Natalie Finnemore|url=https://yorkshire-sculpture.org/associate-artists/natalie-finnemore/|access-date=2020-11-17|website=Yorkshire Sculpture International|language=en}}</ref>
== Early life and education == Finnemore studied a foundation year in Art and Design at the Cumbria Institute of Arts, University of Cumbria, and completed a BA Fine Art degree at Sheffield Hallam University in 2011.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Being an Artist: Then and Now|url=https://www.axisweb.org/archive/news-and-views/in-focus/being-an-artist-then-and-now/|access-date=2020-11-17|website=Axisweb}}</ref>
== Career == Finnemore was selected to participate in the ''Bloomberg New Contemporaries 2012,'' a yearly platform for promising recent fine art graduates in the UK.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bloomberg New Contemporaries 2012|url=https://archive.ica.art/whats-on/bloomberg-new-contemporaries-2012|access-date=2020-11-17|website=archive.ica.art|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2012-11-27|title=Art stars of the future at New Contemporaries 2012 – in pictures|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2012/nov/27/new-contemporaries-2012-pictures-bloomberg|access-date=2020-11-17|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
Following her degree Finnemore was selected to take part in the S1 Studio Bursary Programme 2011, at S1 Artspace in Sheffield. This was a professional development scheme which included associated artists such as Haroon Mirza, James Clarkson and Simon Bill.<ref>{{Cite web|title=S1 Bursary Holders: 2011 — S1 Artspace|url=https://www.s1artspace.org/programme/s1-introduces-2/|access-date=2020-11-17|language=en-US}}</ref> Finnemore then become a permanent studio holder at S1 Artspace, and took part in various exhibitions hosted by S1 Artspace including ''Three Act Structure'', 2014,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Three Act Structure — S1 Artspace|url=https://www.s1artspace.org/programme/three-act-structure/|access-date=2020-11-17|language=en-US}}</ref> and ''I Can Read With My Eyes Shut, 2016''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=I Can Read With My Eyes Shut — S1 Artspace|url=https://www.s1artspace.org/programme/i-can-read-with-my-eyes-shut/|access-date=2020-11-17|language=en-US}}</ref> Finnemore currently works from Exchange Place Studios, Sheffield, run by Yorkshire Artspace.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Natalie Finnemore → Yorkshire Artspace|url=http://artspace.org.uk/our-artists-makers/natalie-finnemore/|access-date=2020-11-17|website=artspace.org.uk}}</ref>
In 2019 Finnemore was selected, alongside four other artists, to be awarded a grant and a place on the Associate Artist programme as part of Yorkshire Sculpture International festival 2019, which offered artist development and mentoring.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Associate Artists|url=https://yorkshire-sculpture.org/artists/associate-artists/|access-date=2020-11-17|website=Yorkshire Sculpture International|language=en}}</ref> Through this Finnemore teamed up with John Lewis & Partners to present a sculptural installation in their Leeds city centre store. The result of this commission, entitled ''Support Structures'', was exhibited in the ground floor window and second floor, and addressed Finnemore's interest in 'functional sculpture and non-functional design'<ref>{{Cite web|title=Natalie Finnemore: Support Structures|url=https://yorkshire-sculpture.org/events/natalie-finnemore-support-structures/|access-date=2020-11-17|website=Yorkshire Sculpture International|language=en}}</ref> and incorporated products from the John Lewis store display.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Natalie Finnemore: Support Structures|url=https://yorkshire-sculpture.org/events/natalie-finnemore-support-structures/|access-date=2020-11-17|website=Yorkshire Sculpture International|language=en}}</ref> Finnemore also exhibited in the Associated Matter exhibition at Yorkshire Sculpture Park, alongside the other YSI Associate artists.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Associated Matter|url=https://yorkshire-sculpture.org/events/associated-matter/|access-date=2020-11-17|website=Yorkshire Sculpture International|language=en}}</ref>
Finnemore has developed a number of sculptural installations which encourage playful interactions with the objects from the public. She uses her research into 'elements of design that are used to manipulate the user's behaviour'<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-02-13|title=Natalie Finnemore|url=https://yorkshire-sculpture.org/associate-artists/natalie-finnemore/|access-date=2020-11-17|website=Yorkshire Sculpture International|language=en}}</ref> to create sculptural objects which impact the behaviour of the audience. In 2015 Finnemore collaborated with design agency Lyon & Lyon to make a piece of modular furniture that encourages creative play for The Tetley gallery in Leeds.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Tetley|url=https://www.lyonandlyon.co.uk/work/the-tetley/|access-date=2020-11-17|website=www.lyonandlyon.co.uk}}</ref> During summer 2017 Finnemore was invited by The Hepworth Wakefield to devise and run a series of workshops with year 6 students from a local primary school exploring how to make sculpture that can be played with and on.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Portobello Plays at The Hepworth Wakefield|url=https://hepworthwakefield.org/your-visit/visiting-with-a-family/portobello-plays/|access-date=2020-11-17|website=The Hepworth Wakefield|language=en-GB}}</ref> Finnemore went on to create a large sculptural installation for playing on inspired by the student's ideas outdoors at The Hepworth Wakefield.<ref>{{Cite web|title=COLUMN: The best museum is right on your doorstep|url=https://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/lifestyle/column-best-museum-right-your-doorstep-844987|access-date=2020-11-17|website=www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk|language=en}}</ref> In 2017 Finnemore took part in the group exhibition ''Leisure Time'' at S1 Artspace in Sheffield. The show explored the concept of leisure within the Buahaus curriculum. Finnemore's sculpture, ‘Function: Grasping/Movement Ability Developing’, a group of soft pillow rings, invited visitors to rest upon them and make use of their function to provide comfort.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Leisure Time|url=https://corridor8.co.uk/article/leisure-time/|access-date=2020-11-17|website=Corridor8|language=en-GB}}</ref>
== Selected group exhibitions ==
* ''Associated Matter'', Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Wakefield, 2019<ref>{{Cite web|title=Associated Matter|url=https://www.afterview.net/associated-matter|access-date=2020-11-17|website=Afterview|language=en-US}}</ref> * ''Construction House: Leisure Time,'' S1 Artspace, Sheffield, 2018<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sheffield City of Makers {{!}} Construction House: Leisure Time|url=http://sheffieldcityofmakers.co.uk/construction-house-leisure-time|access-date=2020-11-17|language=en}}</ref> * ''Everything Flows'', Millennium Gallery, Sheffield, 2017<ref>{{Cite web|title=Everything Flows|url=https://corridor8.co.uk/article/everything-flows/|access-date=2020-11-17|website=Corridor8|language=en-GB}}</ref> * ''Drawing for Sculpture'', 20-21 Visual Arts Centre, Scunthorpe, 2017<ref>{{Cite web|title=Drawing for Sculpture|url=http://www.2021visualartscentre.co.uk/exhibitions/exhibitions-archive/drawing-sculpture/|access-date=2020-11-17|website=20-21 Visual Arts Centre|language=en-GB}}</ref> * ''Left Hand to Back of Head, Object Held Against Right Thigh,'' Bluecoat Gallery, Liverpool, 2016<ref>{{Cite web|title=the Bluecoat >> Left Hand to Back of Head, Object Held Against Right Thigh|url=http://www.thebluecoat.org.uk/events/view/exhibitions/3269|access-date=2020-11-17|website=www.thebluecoat.org.uk}}</ref> * ''Think.Play.Do'', The Tetley, Leeds, 2015<ref>{{Cite web|title=THINK.PLAY.DO. A playful art exhibition @ The Tetley in Leeds – Yorkshire Play|url=http://www.yorkshireplay.co.uk/?p=496|access-date=2020-11-17|language=en-GB}}</ref> * ''Bloomberg New Contemporaries'', ICA, London, 2012-2013<ref>{{Cite web|title=Natalie Finnemore|url=https://www.newcontemporaries.org.uk/2012/artists/natalie-finnemore|access-date=2020-11-17|website=New Contemporaries|language=en-gb}}</ref>
== Awards ==
* Yorkshire Sculpture International, Associate Artist, 2019 * The Penthouse Residency, The Penthouse, Manchester, 2013 * S1 Artspace Bursary Award programme, 2011<ref>{{Cite web|title=S1 Bursary Holders: 2011 — S1 Artspace|url=https://www.s1artspace.org/programme/s1-introduces-2/|access-date=2020-11-17|language=en-US}}</ref> * Bloomberg New Contemporaries 2012
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Finnemore, Natalie}} Category:Living people Category:1988 births Category:21st-century British women artists Category:Alumni of Sheffield Hallam University Category:21st-century British sculptors Category:British women sculptors Category:British installation artists Category:Women installation artists Category:British contemporary artists