Outside In is a charity providing a platform for artists who face barriers gaining access to the art world. MA Creative Practice student Catherine Reed was recently selected as their artist of the month.
As an artist from a non-traditional background Catherine became involved with Outside In following a recommendation from a curator and has found a platform of support and opportunity which she describes as having a “really positive purpose”.
Although she has been surrounded by art all her life, her mum is an international textile artist and former curator at the National Museum in Botswana, it was only following a breakdown that Catherine found a way to use art to help her heal and recognised her talent.
She told Outside In:
“I remember I picked up a crayon and did a terrible drawing but it was a way of healing, a way of getting all the pain out there and then all of a sudden this talent came out. I noticed the shift – as did my mum and her friend who is a well-known silversmith – they were both like ‘wow, something is happening’.”
As a result of her profile on the platform Catherine’s work has been purchased by Investec Corporate and Investment Banking UK to promote their sponsorship of Outside In. Her piece Mountain Snow Storm, will be the lead image of the partnership and will hang in their London HQ.
Image: Catherine Reed, Snow Storm 7
Catherine told us:
“It's a huge achievement and a great honour to have such a large global investment fund choose my work for such a prestigious deal.”
Read more about Catherine and her work here.
Image: Catherine Reed, Last Gardener Aleppo
About Outside In
Founded in 2006 by Marc Steene at Pallant House Gallery, Chichester, Outside In aims to provide a platform for artists who face a significant barrier to the art world due to health, disability, social circumstances or isolation.
In 2016, following celebrations to mark the project’s highly successful first decade, Outside In became an independent charity. In 2017, Outside In joined Arts Council England’s National Portfolio.
Since its inception, Outside In has engaged with more than 5,000 traditionally excluded artists. It has held more than 50 exhibitions to date and now provides opportunities and support for more than 2,600 artists.
