Isabelle Crisp

Isabelle Crisp is a midlands based artist who uses mainly chairs and other inanimate objects to portray the experiences and characteristics of human presence, and lack thereof. She graduated with a 1st Class Honors Fine Art Degree from De Montfort University in 2023 and currently works from a studio in ‘Two Queens’, a community-based artist studio and gallery in Leicester.

Isabelle is autistic, and ‘object personification’ is a phenomenon that sometimes occurs with this neurodiversity, and through the device of chairs, Isabelle is able to convey a deeper expression of feeling. From this, her works are a manifestation of her understandings of herself and others, and the relationships between them, explored and processed through symbolic devices.

Isabelle has an interest in history through her involvement in reenactment societies, and the hand-making of clothes and objects for shows. This has encouraged an appreciation for detail, and the difference between that and today’s culture of speed. This interest in revisiting past events has branched her practice into exploring and using photography from her childhood, and examining each nostalgic moment through paint.

During her residency, Isabelle Crisp plans to focus on developing her studio practice, using the opportunity to deepen her work and explore new creative directions. With a strong commitment to establishing herself as a full-time artist, she intends to use this time not only for concentrated making, but also as a way to connect with new people and places—learning from and engaging with a community different from her own.

As part of the residency, Isabelle also plans to host a public-facing event that will open up her process and foster dialogue with the local community. This could take the form of an open studio, workshop, or participatory event that encourages connection and exchange—creating space for shared experiences and learning through creative practice.