Kara Neel

Lives and works in Scotland, UK

Artist statement

My work explores the intersections of ecology, cultural heritage, and collective memory. I am drawn to traditions that view time as cyclical and communities as inseparable from the landscapes they inhabit. These worldviews inspire me to create works that reconnect people with natural rhythms and shared rituals, not as acts of nostalgia but as tools for imagining sustainable futures. Materials and process are central to this practice. I often work with natural and locally sourced resources such as plants, clay, and food, engaging in methods like natural dyeing, pottery, foraging, and cooking. Each of these processes is both practical and symbolic, carrying forward knowledge that has long shaped human survival and creativity. I see the act of making, eating, or gathering together as inseparable from the finished artwork: the work lives as much in the communal experience as in the physical outcome. My practice is interdisciplinary, bridging visual art, craft, and participatory performance. I often create projects that unfold across seasons, using cyclical frameworks to structure both content and form. Audiences are invited not just to observe but to participate, blurring the lines between artist, subject, and community. Through these encounters, I aim to reveal how art can be a means of renewal, fostering belonging and resilience in a time of ecological and cultural disruption. Alongside my artistic work, I have a background in cultural education and community projects, where...

Artwork