The exhibition Shine Through by Julian Mayor and Ana Bridgewater presents a striking interplay between light and shade, stillness, and motion. By utilizing contrasting materials – metal and porcelain – the artists create dynamic sculptures and objects of collectible design that evoke a sense of life and movement, captured within the sculptural forms themselves.

Julian Mayor’s work focuses on stainless steel, laser-cut and welded to achieve a flawless mirror finish. The industrial nature of the metal juxtaposed with its reflective surface invites a dialogue between the work and its surroundings, continuously shifting in response to the changing light and perspective of the viewer. The sculptures, though raw and geometric, expand beyond their physical form, blending with their environment in a way that feels alive and in constant motion.

Ana Bridgewater, on the other hand, works with porcelain, a material grounded in the earth. Her sculptures evoke a sense of fluidity and weightlessness, with the porcelain taking on a porous texture that seems to dissolve into air. This transformation allows the sculptures to radiate light from within, creating an ethereal quality. The sense of lightness contrasts with the solid, earthy origins of the material, offering a visual experience that is both grounded and transcendent.

The unification of strength and tenderness is central to the exhibition. The pieces invite the viewer to experience them not only from a distance but also through a more intimate interaction. The dialogue between the sculptures and their environment creates an engaging experience, drawing attention to the ways light and shadow interact with form, scale, and texture. The exhibition Shine Through captures the beauty of nature’s elements and the transformative power of material, offering an experience that challenges perceptions of space, motion, and stillness.

Artists

Julian Mayor is a British artist and designer known for his sculptural works in welded sheet metal. Using high-tech design processes, the artist creates each piece digitally on a computer before building them by hand in his workshop. Born in 1976, Mayor graduated with a BA in Industrial Design from the University of Northumbria in 1998, followed by an MA from the Royal College of Art in Design Products under Ron Arad. After graduating in 2000, he moved to Northern California and worked for a design consultant agency as a product and interior designer. By 2004, Mayor returned to London to work for UK-based agencies, including Pentagram, and collaborated with British designer Tom Dixon. The artist’s work has been exhibited at the Victoria & Albert Museum London, the Museum of Arts and Design New York, Design Museum Holon and Sculpture at Goodwood, East Sussex. He has installed a permanent series of sculptural benches in a park behind the Tate Britain in Pimlico, London. Mayor lives and works in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, UK.

Ana Bridgewater is a designer and sculptor who has been working with porcelain since 2004. She established her business, Abalon in London in 2015 and it has been recognized internationally for its sustainable ethos. She has worked with notable clients such as The National Trust, Petersham Nurseries, Alex Eagle, and The Spanish Embassy, and has been featured in international press such as The Independent, The Guardian, Elle Decoration, and You magazine. All of her designs and production processes are done by hand in London. She designs long-lasting, reusable objects that generate minimal waste, and is committed to using sustainable materials to produce products with the lowest possible carbon footprint.