sarah lucas

Sarah Lucas (born 1962) is an artist who came to prominence as one of the Young British Artists or yBAs. Her work is known for its sly wit addressing the low level misogynist sexual stereotyping that is a feature of British tabloid newspapers and the use of readymade elements. She studied the London College of Printing before switching to fine art at Goldsmiths College from 1984 - 1987 where she dated Damian Hirst before forming a relationship with Gary Hume. Her early work was sculptural installations with this work Lucas took part in the Freeze exhibition. In interviews Lucas has admited that after Freeze her career languished for a few years as she was known primarily as Gary Hume's girlfriend. After spending a year with Hume in New York through 1990 they split and Lucas returned to London where she began a long lasting relationship with Angus Fairhurst. Lucas' breakthrough came in 1991 when she had a solo exhibition at City Racing of collages based on spreads from British tabloid newspapers. The lurid pieces emphasising sex, deformity, violence and sensationalism typified many of the elements associated with the YBAs. Charles Saatchi brought the entire set and they were exhibited at his space in North London the following year. Lucas used the money from the sale to finance 'The Shop' a project run with friend Tracey Emin as 'The Birds' in 1993. Many of Lucas' works from this period were subtle parodies of the work of more famous contemporaries. Apart from contributions to group shows such as Brilliant! (1995) and Sensation (1997)Lucas did not have a major solo exhibition until 1998 that was organised by her dealer Sadie Coles in an empty building in Clerkenwell. The exhibition featured Lucas' signature of cigarettes stuck onto objects such as crash helmets. In 2000 Lucas was commissioned to install a series of works as the Freud Museum that was accompanied by an exhibition a Sadie Coles' Gallery. These works were female type forms made using tights inspired by Louise Bourgeois. It is reported that Lucas has declined nomination for the Turner Prize on a number of occassions.

Sarah Lucas

See also