Askew Gallery is delighted to present Starch, a dynamic group exhibition featuring the works of local artists, Anna Booth, Sally Grumbridge, Louise Richards, and Roz Wallis. This multidisciplinary showcase explores the historical and artistic significance of starch through ceramics, photography, printmaking and mixed media. Inspired by the area’s history as a hub for laundries, the artists reinterpret the material’s role in domestic life, textile traditions, and artistic experimentation.

Featured Artists and Their Works

Anna Booth

Photographer, Anna looks at both starch in nature, as well as its early use in window displays, the boundary between private and public, through photography and printmaking. The very materials used in the artworks also tell a story of how starch is used in paper.

Sally Grumbridge

Painter and printmaker, Sally’s work is informed by personal, historical and/or cultural themes. For Starch, she explores the history of clothing and the use of starch to stiffen fabrics, drawing connections between fashion, domestic labour and roles in society. Her new work involves using starched fabrics and items of clothing as ‘printing plates’ for her striking images.

Louise Richards

Visual artist, Louise transforms everyday objects and domestic rituals into bold, thought-provoking works. For Starch, Louise presents a video, Ironing, she provocatively irons her face, critiquing the repetitive nature of domestic work while commenting on societal pressures surrounding perfection and ageing. Her pop-art digital prints further celebrate everyday objects, reframing them as subjects of artistic exploration.

Roz Wallis

Ceramics artist, Roz specialises in both functional and artistic pottery. Passionate about exploring diverse ceramic processes, Roz often collaborates with other artists to develop innovative works. For Starch, Roz examines the transformative nature of clay and its parallels with the malleability of starch in both artistic and domestic applications.