About the Artist
The artist Miriam Zevalking was born in 1981 in Denver, Colorado, U.S.A. She has been painting drawing and sculpting from a very young age, encouraged by her artist mother. This talent was first noticed and nurtured by Sheridan Horn of Trinity School at her secondary level. Inspiring Miriam to enroll on a exploratory BTEC year at UCE Birmingham. Torn between sculpture and fashion she pursued her interest in the human form by specializing in fashion construction. This lead to an influential BA(Hons) Degree in Fashion Design at University of Westminster. Miriam trained for two months with Alexander McQueen, attended an illustration master-classes in summer school with Camilla Dixon. Finally winning second place in a Young Designer of the Year award at the Clothes Show, which lead to work experience in the fashion department at the Daily Telegraph. Miriam graduated in 2004.
Miriam then briefly worked in entertainment abroad, on return she explored fashion retail. Miriam returned to art as “Artist in Residence” for three years for Trinity School. Miriam has been drawn back to investigating fashion as art. She has spent many years studying the human form through fashion illustration and life drawing as well as portraiture, in London, Birmingham, Banbury, Stratford-upon -Avon and Leamington Spa.
Miriam returned to Trinity in 2012 to study sculpture and painting with Helena Godwin. During this time she was introduced to “Kitsch” Sheridan Horn’s theme for the exhibition. Miriam was suffering from overwhelming sorrow and heartache following a relationship break up, Miriam found solace and comfort in the beauty of flowers. Experiments with drawing and sculpture led to the obsession and scrutiny of Lilies. Miriam says;
I was attracted to them because of their strong sculptural silhouette and intrigued by the vibrancy and variety of colours.
What had started as a sketchbook full of ideas quickly lead onto more developed water-colour sketches. These studies lead to bigger canvases using acrylic paints growing larger and more intensely voluptuous.
By the end of 2012 Miriam produced a prolific body of vivacious lily studies. This consists of seventy canvases ranging in size from A3 up to 40” by 50”, fifteen framed drawings and one featured sculpture of a grandiose white lily.
Miriam Zevalking’s work will be available to buy directly from the artist either online or from the “Kitsch Show” running from the date 14th February to the shows close on the 6th April 2013. Please free to contact the artist in the meantime with any enquires.
Miriam Zevalking lives and work in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire.
