Robot Cossey

Search terms: sculpture, sculptor, wood, woodcarving, public art

Artist's Statement

"Art has always played an important role in my life ever since I can remember and has given me an endless amount of enjoyment and satisfaction. This is why I have chosen to be a community artist. The passion and enthusiasm that art can create within people is contagious and this is the message I want to bring to my work and try to pass on to others, which can often mean trying to turn a negative into a positive.
Through my experience I have learnt that engaging with communities on all different levels is the route to a successful art project.

I specialise in the design and fabrication of site-specific artworks for public spaces. I collaborate with other artists, architects, planners and engineers on projects. Working with individuals, the community, conservation/environmental groups and schools to create sculptures and furniture that enhance parks, school grounds and gardens.
The particular qualities of each material I use are important to me.
Working with the given qualities of the living material, which have hidden within them the history of belonging to the natural environment.
Much of my work embodies green principles and environmental awareness. Materials are often reclaimed or recycled, making art works that use materials, which are local and/or linked to the specific place through work or nature.
My training background consists of fine art sculpture combined with the discipline of woodcarving.
As an artist I am interested in the relationship between people and the environment. Shapes found in nature inspire me. My work explores the balance between nature and culture.
Alongside the commissioned sculptures I make smaller and more intimate pieces."
Robot Cossey

About the Artist

Qualifications:

1998-2001 - University Of Wolverhampton, BA (Hons) Degree Fine Art Sculpture, First Class Honours
Nuneaton College Of Technology And Art
1987-1989 - Btec National Diploma Art And Design
1987-1989 - A Level Art And Design
1986-1987 - Btec 1st National Diploma Art And Design
1986-1987 - GCSE Art

Recent Projects:

LIFT Projects Wolverhampton

Phoenix Wolverhampton Primary Care NHS Trust Children’s Centre – Parkfields
Gems Wolverhampton Primary Care NHS Trust Children’s Centre – Wednesfield
The development and delivery of public art designs: for steel fencing, wooden sculpture and other designs within and around the NHS centres.

Graiseley Art Project Wolverhampton

St. Chad’s Recreational Ground, Pennfields.
The development, design and delivery of a landscaped public art feature to celebrate the local history of the AJS motorcycle company.

Milkingbank Primary School, Dudley

Arts Week
A series of educational children’s workshops; using their ideas leading up to create permanent sculpture within school grounds, in collaboration with different Artists and art forms.

Bilston Arts Festival - Bilston, Wolverhampton

Using educational art workshops leading to an event, highlighting the issues within the area and to positively promote Bilston Town Centre.
Working alongside Bilston regeneration team, the council, community groups and schools in the local area to develop and be actively involved in highlighting problems and issues within the Town Centre, relating to graffiti, litter, vermin etc.

Saltwells Sculpture Trail 2004-5

One of the most recent and successful large scale community projects that I have been involved with, is a Sculpture Trail within the Black Country. The sculpture Trail is now open for the public to view at Saltwells Nature reserve in Dudley, after receiving funding from the millennium Commission. The Sculptures were constructed and lead by myself and a team made up of two local Artists and one trainee Artist. The Trail consists of eight sculptures that represent the wildlife and the local area and include an outdoor classroom with a three metre high rocking chair, a wildlife totem pole and a giant oak monolith representing the four elements. The designs for the sculptures came from consultation with two local schools, Netherbrook Primary and Quarry Bank Primary School, after running a series of workshops with the children.
This particular project has shown best practice, firstly by consulting and engaging with the local community and secondly by generating employment for locally skilled people.
The Trail has had excellent feedback and a lot of interest generated outside the Nature Reserve with the making of the sculptures. The number of walkers and members of the public asking about the project and giving positive comments has been amazing. The sculpture Trail has already had a massive impact on the nature reserve, attracting a lot of interest and publicity, including local papers and profiled on BBC Midlands Today.