Kate Whyles

A curator is expected to act as a thinker, a writer, a content producer, a manager of projects and, above all, a provocateur.
Kate Whyles was a curator who currently works in digital technologies, working towards a Masters in computer science. She studied foundation art and design at Nottingham college in 1997 where she attended the Sensation exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts London to change people's thoughts on art. Studying at Nottingham College helped her gain a place at Fine Art BA (Hons) at Nottingham Trent University just as the BA/Britart movement of the 1990s was taking the art world by storm.

Thus secured a year's placement at the Royal Academy, where her mentor was Tracy Emin, and worked closely with Marc Quinn. Her practice was sculpture in resin. Which assisted with the preservation of "The Compete Marbles" collection.

"These marble sculptures were made with traditional marble masons in Pietrasanta, Italy. They are partly inspired by the Elgin Marbles at the British Museum and other classical, fragmented or damaged classical statues such as the Venus de Milo at the Louvre. Neoclassical in appearance, they present images of 'incomplete' bodies, of people who have either lost limbs due to an accident or who were born with a disability. By adopting the language of idealism, they relate to images of 'idealised' beauty that Neoclassicism sought to represent but also highlight the fact that while the notion of an incomplete body is something that is celebrated and acceptable within the context of art history, it is not always so in real life. These works explore the contradictions between our outside appearance and inner being, celebrating imperfection and the beauty of different kinds of bodies as well as the strength and vitality of the human spirit."

(Selma Mustajbasic - 2000)

Whyles assisted Gilbert and George with the 'Dirty Words pictures.' The Dirty Words Pictures juxtapose graffiti swear words and slogans with disturbing images of urban life and the bleak presence of the artists themselves. Relentlessly exploring aspects of 20th-century turmoil, the pictures reveal much about the changing face of urban living and shifting attitudes towards sexuality.

This helped her to be able to rent her first gallery space after obtaining her degree and created the 'This is Art' gallery located on Stony Street which is now find Oscar and Rosie's restaurant. This was a derelict post office so it took ALOT of work to transform it into an exhibition space.

Next came a live art event in collaboration with local events company I'm not from London entitled Little Wolf Parade. I collaborated with local performing artist and good friend Rachel Parry, to create a one-off evening of experimental and immersive experiences. For £5 per ticket, we sold out within two hours.

Artists included Simon Raven, Adam Rose, Emerald Ace and David Flint.

After graduating in 2001, she became the curator of Castle Fine Art Galleries here in Nottingham. A family-owned, then fledgling company that expanded across the UK as the demand for affordable fine art within the home grew. A retail and commercial curation experience that developed over the period of 6 years. Nieve art and investment opportunities were popular.

Represented artists including Lorenzo Quinn, Mackenzie Thorpe, Rolf Harris, Govinder Nazran and Eve Arnold.