As part of London Craft Week, DegreeArt and Contemporary Collective, in partnership with Bankside Hotel, hosted an evening that brought together craft, conversation, and community—marking the culmination of Sarah Emily Porter’s remarkable three-month residency.
Guests were welcomed into Sarah’s open studio for an evening of insight and inspiration, featuring a live Q&A and drinks reception. It was the first opportunity to view the full Residency Collection, a body of work that spans stitched canvases, poured paintings, collages, and ink-layered grids. Each piece offered a glimpse into Sarah’s deep-rooted connection to the architecture and energy of London’s South Bank.
Over the past three months, Sarah transformed the studio into a space of experimentation and quiet precision. Her practice drew upon a lifelong fascination with geometry and colour, memories of quilting with her mother, and the urban rhythms of her daily walks along the Thames.
The resulting works reveal a compelling interplay between structure and spontaneity. From intricate 1mm tape grids to hand-stitched canvases made from offcuts, and meticulously controlled paint pours, each piece begins with mathematical calculations and gridded sketches, while leaving space for chance and materiality to take hold.
Sarah’s approach not only pushed the boundaries of her own practice but also invited visitors to reflect on the discipline and play involved in contemporary craft.
Q. What inspired your work during this residency?
A. Being surrounded by architecture has been a dream. I’m deeply inspired by the geometries of buildings and the lives unfolding inside them. My walks along the Thames and through South Bank heavily informed the grid patterns you see in my work here.
Q. How do your new works relate to your earlier wave paintings?
A. I work across multiple styles, often at the same time. The waves and greenhouse pieces are more expressive explorations of color, but even my minimalist and architectural work is rooted in color theory. They coexist, rather than evolve linearly.
Q. You’ve introduced new techniques while here- what stands out most to you?
A. Definitely the stitched canvases. I’ve always had scraps from stretching canvas, and I hated throwing them away. My mum made patchwork quilts, and my sister teaches textiles, so it felt natural to stitch the scraps together—subtly nodding to the gridwork that underpins all of my pieces.
It has been a privilege to witness the evolution of this collection and to open the studio doors to so many engaged and curious visitors.
A heartfelt thank you to Sarah Emily Porter for the time, care, and creativity she brought to this residency—her work has truly inspired and captivated all who encountered it.
ABOUT LONDON CRAFT WEEK: Celebrating outstanding British and international creativity, the festival brings together over 1000 established and emerging makers, designers, brands and galleries from around the world. A curated selection based not on price or fame, but underlying substance. Plus, that essential dash of magic and inspiration that separates great from good. Crft Week runs until 18th Mat 2025.
