Inspiration Series | Unskilled Worker & Katy Hessel

26 February 2019

She was just so good last time, we had to have her back. We got Unskilled Worker to discuss those heavily sought-after works and in particular, the impact the commercial world has had on her practice, creativity and rocketed-rise to success. In conversation with the esteemed artist will be Katy Hessel, curator and founder of The Great Women Artists Instagram, and part of the team at Victoria Miro.

Unskilled Worker: Working under the name Unskilled Worker Helen Downie is a self-taught artist. Her work depicts a paradoxical world of innocence and darkness. In 2014 she was commissioned to create of Alexander McQueen's most iconic looks and these drawings coincided with the opening of McQueen's ‘Savage Beauty’ show. As well as being commissioned by Gucci for an exhibition in Shanghai. Her work has appeared in some of the worlds leading publications such as Dazed, i-D, Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar to name a few.  Her work has even supported important charities such as the Shutara Trust and Maya Foundation’s Project Lift; a charity project that rehabilitates traumatized children through art therapy.

Katy Hessel: Katy currently works at the acclaimed Victoria Miro as the Press and Marketing Co-ordinator. She is also the founder and curator of The Great Women Artists, an accessible, easy to read Instagram account showcasing and celebrating established and emerging female artists. Great Women Artists was voted as one of the top 10 art Instagrams by The Evening Standard.