Sandra Palmer, aka Brummy Artist, creates collages combining bold black and white images with delicate pastel coloured flowers. The blend of solid and serious with whimsical and imaginative is arresting
We’ve not much to thank Covid-19 for however it represented a new dawn for many people who had time to really think about what they wanted from life. Sandra Palmer was one of those people. She was under the strictest of lockdowns due to a health issue which meant she was even more isolated than most.
Having entered lockdown making and selling lingerie around the world, Sandra emerged as an artist. She began taking photos of flowers in the garden and creating surreal collages using the photos alongside images of some of Birmingham’s iconic architecture. Black and white photos juxtaposed with the vibrancy of the of the flowers produced striking results.
STORY TELLING
Sandra says: “I wanted my art to be relatable, memorable and tell a story. I needed to make art about being happy and positive. People mock Birmingham but there’s beauty out there.” Sandra remembers Birmingham in the eighties when the city had a brutalist energy: “Prince Charles came here and said Birmingham was a concrete city which prompted the council to try to make it more green. Now I think there’s beauty all around.” Influenced by the candid photography of Terry O’Neill and the floral collages of 17th century artist Mary Delaney, Sandra’s art celebrates the beauty of the everyday.
For Sandra, growing up in Birmingham in the seventies and eighties was all about playing out until it got dark, hopscotch, cycling miles on your bike and using two paper cups and a piece of string as a mobile phone and her art feels a bit nostalgic. Lockdown in many ways provided the simpler way of life that mirrored childhood. Sandra slowed down focusing on meditation, art and walks. She says: “I liked the slow pace of life. In some ways it was good emotionally. You could hear the birds tweeting in the city. Things were simpler.”
Sandra tries to strike a balance now. She takes every Sunday off completely in order to relax and reset learning from previous business experience. She used to feel she had to post on social media every day, but she’s cut it down to three times a week. Her focus is trying to get more people to her website as well getting more representation in the city. Sandra’s now selling through Owen De Vissier’s Lux Gallery and has some pieces exhibited at newly opened Society Brum along with another Brummie favourite, Cold War Steve.
CHALLENGING NOTIONS
Sandra completed a course earlier in the year with art historian and author Ruth Millington essentially about how to get into galleries. We’ve heard so many times when interviewing artists based in Birmingham that the scene is incredibly supportive which warms the cockles. Ruth Millington’s name comes up time and again as someone who champions artists and brings them together. Over the summer Sandra exhibited at Belongings, a group exhibition featuring the work of 20 local artists exploring themes of identity, journey, heritage and multiculturalism organised by Ruth. Challenging notions that we only belong to one space, the exhibition celebrated layered stories and memories, multiple senses of self and the idea of physical and emotional ‘belongings’.
Sandra also took part in Open Studios – a wonderful project organised by Owen from Lux which allows artists and craftspeople to display their work from their own homes or studios. This year a whopping 170 artists over 86 venues took part. Sandra displayed her work at Moseley Exchange.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Sandra has begun creating custom collages – personalised pieces centred around a photo from a client that’s given the Brummy Artist collage treatment. Christmas gift anyone? She’d like to sell into museum shops, exhibit more, get more representation and ultimately Sandra would love to hang some pieces in The Grand Hotel. If anyone at the hotel is reading this…