Visual Art
Lilly Foster-Eardley: The Creatures Who Came to Tea
May 2 – June 7
Opening Night: Thursday 1 May, 6.30pm – 8pm
Lilly Foster-Eardley (b.2002) is a recent graduate from Bath Spa University completing a BA Hons in Fine Art. Foster-Eardley is currently a curator resident at Little Lost Robot in Radstock. Foster-Eardley’s art practice delves into exploring and interpreting the intricacies of the natural world through the creation of sculpture and immersive installation. Lilly’s captivating felted and sewn animals, wooden bins and clay banana skin artworks are brought to life through playful animation shorts.
The Creatures Who Came for Tea is an installation featuring felt and sawn animals inspired by Beatrix Potter’s whimsical creatures, gathered around a ceramic tea set. The work nods to my roots in Stoke-on-Trent, a city known for its pottery industry, and explores themes of class, industrial heritage, and the divide between working-class and upper-class experiences.
The ceramic tea set in the installation symbolizes the contrast between the working-class origins of pottery production and its association with the refined rituals of high tea. Through this juxtaposition, the piece reflects my personal journey of growing up in the Midlands, moving south, and grappling with imposter syndrome in environments that felt unfamiliar. Ultimately, the work addresses the tension between labor and privilege, offering a commentary on class divides, the working-class experience, and the cultural legacy of the pottery industry.
