Pattern Portraits

Welcome to this Bonus Episode of PATTERN PORTRAITS in collaboration with MIMA!Lauren Godfrey chats with artist Jacqueline Poncelet on the occasion of her exhibition ‘In The Making’ at MIMA, Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art.We chat about intelligent risk taking, the importance of travel for Jacqui and the visual beefy soup of the world around us!Artist Jacqueline Poncelet graduated from an MA in ceramics from The Royal College of Art in 1972 and garnered a broad following in the international ceramics scene in the 70s and 80s, Jacqueline is an artist whose career spans 50 years and now explores ceramics, painting, sculpture and textiles as well as large scale public commissions. Her work varies from tiny and hand held to vast in scale, wrapping Edgware Road Underground station in a symphony of patterned vitreous enamel in 2012.Pattern is at the crux of all she makes, whether it’s subtly impressed into bone china forms, spliced together in carpet swatches covering the floor, or woven into tactile blankets depicting the seasonal colour shifts of the hills of South Wales.This episode of Pattern Portraits is in collaboration with MIMA, Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art which is part of the School of Arts & Creative Industries at Teesside University. Jacqueline Poncelet’s solo exhibition ‘In The Making’ is on view there until 23rd June 2024. I highly recommend a visit, this stunning show envelops the breadth of Jacqueline’s practice over the past 50 years. Taking a thematic approach, it presents new reflections on work from different eras of Poncelet’s practice. This exhibition is her largest to date and is supported by Freelands Foundation and The Henry Moore Foundation. MIMA and Jacqui won the prestigious Freelands Award in 2021 which recognises the work of a midcareer woman artist who has not yet received the acclaim their work deserves.I urge you to go and see the show and you will be rewarded with a feast of pattern!Jacqui has chosen patterns across many forms, a painting - Edouard Vuillard, Interior, Mother and Sister of the Artist, 1893, a ceramic platter by Janice Tchalenko, a Japanese Kimono acquired whilst in Tokyo and a Welsh coat.You can see all these patterns and more on instagram @patternportraitspodcastThe PATTERN PORTRAIT print artwork to accompany Jacqui’s interview and featuring the patterns we discuss is available to buy now at www.laurengodfrey.co.uk and via the MIMA shop.Season Two will be coming soon, follow @patternportraitspodcast to stay in the loop!

Welcome to Episode Eight of PATTERN PORTRAITS!Lauren Godfrey chats with broadcaster and presenter Gemma Cairney about the eroticism of everyday life, pattern as code and living instinctively. Gemma is best known for her work with BBC radio, and a myriad of TV appearances from hosting Glastonbury for the BBC to presenting the public art competition show, Landmark for Sky Arts. Gemma is a published author with another book coming out imminently called The Immortal Sisterhood. Gemma is deeply and passionately involved in the art world, she is on the board of Jupiter Art Land Foundation and the Edinburgh Art Festival helping steer the ship of exciting art in Scotland and beyond. Gemma has a truly joyful approach to dressing, always appearing in fabulously playful patterns and colours, often sourced from independent designers and sustainable brands. I’ve long admired her buoyant presence on my screen and in my ears so it’s my absolute pleasure to chat pattern, colour and life with her! Gemma has chosen patterns on garments including a dress from a roadside stall in Ghana, a handmade cotton scarf from Ethiopia, a vintage 1980’s dress, a selection of crochet items - a bikini from Jamaica and a top and pouch made by Katie Jones, and a sarong bought from the New York City Opera thrift shop. You can see all these patterns and more on instagram @patternportraitspodcastThe PATTERN PORTRAIT print artwork to accompany Gemma’s interview and featuring the patterns we discuss is available to buy now at www.laurengodfrey.co.ukThere will be an exhibition of the artworks soon to be announced!This is the final episode of Season One but Season Two will be coming soon, follow @patternportraitspodcast to stay in the loop!Other things we discuss:Gemma’s first book - Open, A Toolkit for How Magic and Messed Up Life Can Be The Sound Odyssey for Radio 4 Some of the 12 women that feature in Gemma’s forthcoming book The Immortal Sisterhood - Pharaoh Hatshepsut, Betty Davis, Pamela Coleman Smith, Audre Lorde and Grace Jones.

Welcome to Episode Seven of PATTERN PORTRAITS!Lauren Godfrey chats with artist and designer Hannah Sabapathy about patterns as a key to other histories, the jewel-like colours of her Grandma’s saris and collaging as a process of creating conversations. Hannah Sabapathy is based in Dundee in Scotland and leads Studio Plica, a studio that explores colour, materials and the politics of pattern. She makes beautiful things, tender, intricate, and precise, peppered with pattern and with a seductive tactility from jewellery to furniture and soon to be large scale enamel panels. All drawing from patterns and their rich and complex heritage. Hannah is a currently part of the first cohort of 20/20, an initiative by University of the Arts London to support the careers of a new generation of diverse artists. Hannah is exploring the archive at The Harris Museum in Preston and looking at de-colonising and unpacking the patterned textiles in their collection.Hannah has chosen a stunning selection of patterns some from her home and family and some from the collections she’s been exploring. Including a ‘Mushroo’ fabric from Hyderabad, a 1930’s quilt from her mum’s collection, one of her Grandma’s silk saris, Kolams drawn by her Grandma, an endpaper from a Mark Pawson book, a Japanese Lacquerware tray and a fan from 1885 in the Harris Collection. Images of all these patterns will be posted on @patternportraitspodcast instagram. The PATTERN PORTRAIT print artwork to accompany Hannah’s interview and featuring the patterns we discuss is available to buy now at www.laurengodfrey.co.ukThere will be an exhibition of the artworks soon to be announced!Follow @patternportraitspodcast to stay in the loop!New episodes out each Wednesday!

Welcome to Episode Six of PATTERN PORTRAITS!Lauren Godfrey chats with designer and business owner Karen Mabon about delving into the Barbie archive, the aesthetics of Grease 2 and the complexities of owning an eponymous brand. Karen makes pyjamas, scarves, swimwear and more in the most joyful, playful patterns of your dreams! Think tamagotchis, cats in pumpkin costumes and ski bunnies, foxes scavenging in bins and chocolate factories to rival Willy Wonka! If you can dream it, she’s done it… Even if you can’t dream it she’s done it! Karen has collaborated with cultural icons from Agatha Christie to the Queen, and most recently, our true Queen, Barbie!! Her clothes and accessories have been worn by celebrities world wide including Jessica Alba, Selma Blair and Anna from Frozen herself, Kristen Bell! Full disclosure - I’m supremely lucky to be able to call Karen one of my best friends, I’ve been there for the highs and lows from the late night trade shows to the thrills of movie premiers, we even collaborated on a pop up swimwear shop in Lisbon a few years ago. I’m excited to finally be able to ask her the hard-hitting pattern based questions on everybody’s lips! Karen has chosen patterns on garments by Petit Bateau, Burberry and her own brand, Karen Mabon. The PATTERN PORTRAIT print artwork to accompany Karen’s interview and featuring the patterns we discuss is available to buy now at www.laurengodfrey.co.ukThere will be an exhibition of the artworks soon to be announced!Follow @patternportraitspodcast to stay in the loop!New episodes out each Wednesday!

Welcome to Episode Five of PATTERN PORTRAITS!Lauren Godfrey chats with stylist Dr Manrutt Wongkaew about the power of education, dressing as therapy and turning up the dimmer switch on your own light. Manrutt is a stylist, art director and choreographer as well as a senior lecturer at London College of Fashion. His approach to colour and pattern is truly admirable, you think you’ve seen pattern on pattern, this is pattern on pattern on pattern to the power of 10! His patterns are playful, fun and warm, oozing generosity and magnetism, inviting conversations and connections through his creativity. Manrutt has also worked in art therapy, with a great understanding of how creativity is linked to our wellbeing. So I’m thrilled to have him on the podcast to talk about all things pattern and joy! Manrutt has chosen patterns on garments by Charles Jeffrey Loverboy, Cuscus the cuckoos, Pleats Please Issey Miyake, Lazy Oaf x Laura Callghan, Marni x Uniqlo, Raf Simons customised by Catrin Williams and an item from Bangkok weekend market. We also talk about how Manny is a member of Survivors UK and works with Loving Men. He references Edda Gimnes as his ‘pattern that got away’. The PATTERN PORTRAIT print artwork to accompany Manrutt’s interview and featuring the patterns we discuss is available to buy now at www.laurengodfrey.co.ukThere will be an exhibition of the artworks soon to be announced!Follow @patternportraitspodcast to stay in the loop!New episodes out each Wednesday!

Welcome to Episode Four of PATTERN PORTRAITS!Lauren Godfrey chats with author Bethany Rutter about dressing fictional characters, the unavoidable influence of Trinny and Susannah and memorising Agatha Christie novels.A podcaster herself, Bethany co-hosts the literary podcast What Page Are You On? with fellow writer Alice Slater. She has published 3 novels with a 4th and 5th coming out in 2024 and has been blogging about fashion for many years. She has used her platform to challenge the fashion industry on it’s shortcomings regarding inclusivity. She is never far from a bold pattern or a bright colour and is a prolific maker, often to be found crocheting or sculpting accessories and garments.She has designed clothing collections for plus size fashion brand Navabi and even co-designed her own emerald green gem of a wedding dress!Bethany has chosen patterns from garments by Navabi, Marimekko, Wray, Batsheva X Laura Ashley and Karen Mabon.The PATTERN PORTRAIT print artwork to accompany Bethany’s interview and featuring the patterns we discuss is available to buy now at www.laurengodfrey.co.ukThere will be an exhibition of the artworks soon to be announced!Follow @patternportraitspodcast to stay in the loop!New episodes out each Wednesday!Music by Alex Brenchley

Welcome to Episode Three of PATTERN PORTRAITS!Lauren Godfrey chats with illustrator, accessory and prop maker Rosy Nicholas about Garfield roller skates, dressing up as Madonna and the power clothes have to transport you.Rosy has extensive experience of making patterns herself having done brand collaborations with Jigsaw, Estée Lauder, Vans and Lazy Oaf as well as making an epic Grace Jones and Keith Haring inspired Mural for the now closed Ace Hotel in London.Rosy and I got to know each other through strange circumstances - when my partner Alex Brenchley was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2021, a friend put us in touch with Rosy who has been going through treatment for bowel cancer too. She has been a tremendous source of support and comfort for us and Alex and Rosy have formed a strong bond through their shared experiences.Content warning: We discuss Rosy’s cancer diagnosis and treatment in this episode.Rosy has chosen patterns by Versace, NAF NAF and Elegance Paris, as well as some vintage items with no labels.The PATTERN PORTRAIT print artwork to accompany Rosy’s interview and featuring the patterns we discuss is available to buy now at www.laurengodfrey.co.ukThere will be an exhibition of the artworks soon to be announced!Follow @patternportraitspodcast to stay in the loop!New episodes out each Wednesday!Music by Alex Brenchley.

Welcome to Episode Two of PATTERN PORTRAITS!Lauren Godfrey chats with artist and illustrator Mark Hearld about rhythms in patterns, the lack of shocking pink at Kettles Yard and ways of engineering randomness.Mark has an infectious enthusiasm for objects and ephemera, art and artefacts. He has a self-confessed Magpie Eye, honing in on the details and the fleeting moments and running with them into a creative collage of pattern and expression.Working across collage, drawing, painting and printmaking, Mark’s work can been seen far and wide from children’s books to furnishing fabrics to leather marquetry handbags. He has collaborated with fashion houses and interiors brands to create patterns for adorning both your home and your body. His own exceptional home has been featured twice in World of Interiors and his book Raucous Invention, The Joy of Making, came out in 2022.Mark has chosen patterns by Ben Nicholson, Peggy Angus, Comme Des Garçons, Turnbull and Asser, Mark Hearld for A State of Nature and a chapan from Uzbekistan. We discuss many more patterns in the interview.The PATTERN PORTRAIT print artwork to accompany Mark's inteview and featuring the patterns we discuss is available to buy now at www.laurengodfrey.co.ukThere will be an exhibition of the artworks soon to be announced!Follow @patternportraitspodcast to stay in the loop!New episodes out each Wednesday!Music by Alex Brenchley.

Welcome to Episode One of PATTERN PORTRAITS!Lauren Godfrey chats with artist and illustrator Julie Verhoeven about patterns special to her, her time with John Galliano, striking a pose in a velvet trouser suit aged 5 and tending to the Frieze art fair toilets dressed in a tabard.Once met, never forgotten, Julie Verhoeven is a unique force in the art and fashion world, having inspired countless students in her role as a tutor in Fashion at Central Saint Martins, a post she has held for 26 years. She has collaborated with many fashion brands including Chloe, Marc Jacobs, Louis Vuitton and Mulberry and rose to prominence in the noughties with fashion illustration.Julie has chosen mostly vintage garments, one by 'La Coleccion Judith Roberts', all the rest are presumed homemade.The PATTERN PORTRAIT print to accompany Julie's inteview and featuring the patterns we discuss is available now at www.laurengodfrey.co.ukThere will be an exhibition of the artworks soon to be announced!Follow @patternportraitspodcast to stay in the loop!New episodes out each Wednesday!Music by Alex Brenchley.