Sadie Clayton graduated from Kingston University in 2013 with a BA Honors Fashion Design, where the body was her canvas. She was always fascinated by the versatility of copper as a metal and as a ‘fabric’, so she integrated copper sculptures into her collections, moulding to the female form. However, Sadie’s curiosity in technology and passion for innovation lead her to work outside of the boundaries of the body, with holograms at the Royal Academy of the Arts in collaboration with MHD holograms, augmented reality at M&C Saatchi, and artificial intelligence with Sophia the first ever social, humanoid robot, programmed through AI, created by Hanson Robotics at the Shanghai Fashion Weekend 2018.
Sadie released herself as a creator and innovator debuting her copper wearable art at Art Basel Miami at the Red Dot Gallery, at the Museum of Art and Design as part of Singapore Design Week and in New York in April 2019 as part of the Designing Our Future. Now her canvas is the universe.
Sadie’s creative drive to harness Art, Design and Technology meant that in October 2019 she became the first artist to create works of art together with the first Artist robot, Ai-Da the robot, at the Tate Modern as part of the Tate Exchange exploring the theme of technology and the human extension of self and how technology can transform and influence society. Always inspired by our holistic journey Sadie also participated in the virtual exhibition “What we see” at the Gillian Jason Gallery, London 2020.
Embraced by the art world as a creator and innovator unique to the UK scene, Sadie was interviewed by BBC Radio 4 on their Only Artists programme, with Ron Arad the renowned industrial designer, artist and architect, about her perspective on what it means to be an artistic fusion with no creative boundaries, created a video for the Art Fund for the V&A museum exhibition of Frida Kahlo, a huge inspiration for Sadie’s work, held a talk about her creative journey at the Royal Academy of the Arts exhibition on Anthony Gormley and curated the ING Discerning Eye exhibition in November 2018.
Still drawing from many fashion design techniques, she creates artworks from copper to bring positivity, and channel copper’s natural healing powers to reinvigorate individuals, communities and the environment. Drawing on this focus, and the pandemic issue of mental health, Sadie created her artwork OFF CuTs part of the Cure3 2020 in conjunction with Bonhams, where she focused on the meditation of perfection in imperfections as a message of hope for the future that we can rebuild and regenerate ourselves and the planet.
Sadie created the 2018 copper Christmas tree for The Ivy Granary Brasserie drawing significant national and international acclaim and as part of London Craft Week 2020 was invited by Sipsmith to be one of the makers showcased as part of the ‘Future of Craft Market’ creating a copper drinks trolley inspired by the Sipsmith Swan.
