A design graduate from Forres is challenging the male-dominated art world\u2019s perception of crafts.<\/p>\n
Having graduated from UHI Inverness with a Bachelor of Arts First Class Honours Degree in Art and Contemporary Practices, award-winning crafter and artist, Codie Anne Reade, 26, has been invited to exhibit their work in the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Edinburgh.<\/p>\n
Codie Anne is blurring the constructed division between art and crafts.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am honoured to be exhibiting crocheted tapestries next year,\u201d they said. \u201cIt is an amazing opportunity that I am incredibly thankful for.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy work challenges the high art world and is part of the fibre crafts revolution gaining popularity. I am encouraging a conversation and redefining people’s preconceived perceptions of what art means.\u201d<\/p>\n
They learned crafting from an early age from female family members.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen my sister babysat me, she would have some crafty activity to do,\u201d said Codie Anne. \u201cMy mother taught me to knit and sew when I was around seven. I also learned crafts and skills in the Brownies and Girl Guides that I still use.\u201d<\/p>\n
At college, they enjoyed learning how to create works which tell stories or start dialogues. They also focused on promoting belief in the power of crafts.<\/p>\n
Codie Anne\u2019s crocheted manifesto.<\/p>\n
They said: \u201cThe line between arts and crafts has somewhat. It is no longer strictly defined by the materials used, but more so, by the intention of what the artist makes.<\/p>\n
\u201cCraft was associated with women\u2019s work, often under-valued. Art was valued more because it was primarily men who were allowed to do it.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow, everyone can do near enough anything when it comes to art and craft but these historic ideals still linger in our subconscious when judging the work.\u201d<\/p>\n
In 2024, during the \u2018Emergence\u2019 exhibition, Codie Anne was awarded the Millers Art Prize for their work parodying famous male artists such as Andy Warhol and Jeff Koons in tapestry and crochet sculpture.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe idea came from a lecturer telling me that crochet cannot be an art form because of its crafted properties,\u201d Codie Anne said. “He added \u2018Art is for display, not use. My grandmother’s doilies are crafted beautifully but in no way can they be called art when I put my dinner plate on them.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Codie Anne\u2019s \u2018Crochet Soup Parody 2024\u2019.<\/p>\n
They added: \u201cI was surprised to receive the prize. I hadn’t known there was an award available at the exhibition so it was an incredible feeling which took a while to sink in. It validated my work and encouraged me to go further with it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Codie Anne was one of just three students to complete all five years of UHI\u2019s NC and four year degree.<\/p>\n
During their final year degree showcase, Codie Anne won the Scottish Society of Artists New Graduate Award for their work challenging the difference between arts and craft.<\/p>\n
\u201cI used my dissertation to research and discuss my findings for the cause of the divide,\u201d they said, \u201cand created a dialogue for the audience to ponder.<\/p>\n
\u201cCraft is in its revolution and I’m going to keep pushing crochets boundaries to see what can be accomplished. I enjoy dialogue between the audience and the artist.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I can have someone leaving my exhibition with an opinion challenged or belief somewhat altered then I have done my job right.\u201d<\/p>\n