Cornelia Parker is a contemporary British artist known for her large-scale installations and sculptures that transform ordinary objects into extraordinary artworks.
Born in 1956 in Cheshire, England, Parker studied at the Gloucestershire College of Art and Design and later at the Wolverhampton Polytechnic, before completing her Master's degree at the University of Reading.
Parker’s work often involves the manipulation of found objects and materials through processes of destruction and reconstruction. One of her most famous works is "Cold Dark Matter: An Exploded View" (1991), where she had a garden shed blown up by the British Army and then suspended the fragments as if capturing the explosion in a single moment. This piece, like much of her work, explores themes of fragmentation, decay, and transformation, conveying both the moment of destruction and a form of poetic reordering.
Another notable work is "The Maybe" (1995) in collaboration with actress Tilda Swinton, where Swinton occasionally lay sleeping in a glass vitrine inside the Serpentine Gallery. This installation combined performance and sculpture to challenge perceptions of public and private space.
Exploring Destruction and Rebirth in Art
Parker's work is intellectually engaging, often created through acts that challenge the physical properties of materials, resulting in new forms and perspectives. Her approach is deeply influenced by research and concept, which she uses to explore history, human behavior, and social issues.
Her contributions to contemporary art have been widely recognized. Cornelia Parker was nominated for the Turner Prize in 1997 and was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2010. She continues to exhibit internationally, captivating audiences with her provocative and meticulously crafted works.