Discipline
Abstract
Animal
Figurative / Realism
Political/Religious
Portraiture
Material
Brick/Concrete/Plaster
Bronze
Ceramic/Clay
Mixed media
Textile
Region
London
Biography
Figurative sculptures modelled in clay stay at the forefront of Christy’s signature range of work made from ad hoc materials. Her focus on making sculptures of people hidden in our history brings their presence into our lives as well as highlighting historically significant legacies, often people of colour and women. Driven by research it prompts new materials and how to work with them, or pushes process into new combinations to find a solution with drawing as a base essence that is a joy through her practice.
Current commission of Ignatius Sancho sculpture in colour glazed ceramic for the Grade II listed wall of Greenwich Park in 2025. Christy has had solo shows in New York and London. Permanent art collection acquisitions by UK Parliament, 9/11 Memorial & Museum NYC, Royal Museums Greenwich on display in the Queen's House and International Slavery Museum Liverpool where it debuted as a highlight in its 10th anniversary exhibition ‘Ink and Blood: stories of abolition’ 2017. Exhibitions include Salon d’Automne Paris 2019 and 2018, Messums Wiltshire ‘Revelation of the Head’, The London Group 2023, Royal Cambrian Academy (Highly Commended), Royal Scottish Academy, Royal West of England Academy, Society of Women Artists, Chatham Historic Dockyards, RSS Members 'Summer Exhibition' 2023, 2021 and 2018, DSWF 'Wildlife Artist of the Year 2023' Finalist. Solo shows include The Stephen Lawrence Centre ‘SCULPTURE & SPOKEN WORD for Stephen Lawrence’ in 2016 with invited poets Abiodun Oyewole and Caleb Femi and ‘OLAUDAH EQUIANO MAN AND BROTHER’ in 2015, Angel Orensanz Foundation NYC and featured in Black Cultural Archives ‘Black Georgians’ 2016, ‘Avril/Symington’ at Marist College NY 2012. Lifesize tiger sculpture commission in ZSL London Zoo. Others include Young Masters Prize Tour, University Women's Club, Pardon Mill Gallery Harlow, Freedom to Create Prize, RSS Centenary University of Leicester, National Arts Club NY, 3 years Society of Portrait Sculptors, Chiang Mai University Thailand, DACS, Conway Hall, Royal West of England Academy Sculpture Triennial, Pangolin London and Threadneedle Prize.
Member of RSS since 2002 and Council Member 2003-07. Christy studied traditional figure sculpture and drawing in Paris at Les Ateliers Beaux-Arts Montparnasse and Glaciere and the Ecole des Beaux-Arts. 4 years at the New York Studio School USA with Merit Award for Sculpture and selected exchange to Slade School of Art, London. MA in Fine Art 2002 from Byam Shaw [Central Saint Martins], University of the Arts UAL London. Her mother is a sculptor and maternal grandmother was at the Slade in 1926. Through her twenties Christy worked in advertising, marketing, television and 3D graphic design companies in London Auckland and Sydney with backpack travels around the world.
OLAUDAH EQUIANO / Gustav Vasa - Anglo-Finnish & Swedish Societies, The Queen's House Tour with Christy Symington Sculpture Talk This event was organised by the Anglo-Finnish Society jointly with the Anglo-Swedish Society. Anglo-Finnish Society & Anglo-Swedish Society: Visit to Queen’s House, Greenwich, with focus on the sculpture of Olaudah Equiano - Monday, 30 October 2023 at 2.30pm at The Queen’s House, Romney Road, Greenwich, London SE10 9NF. To celebrate BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2023, a visit is organised to Queen’s House, Greenwich, with a focus on the sculpture of Olaudah Equiano, the writer, freedman, and abolitionist. Sculptor Christy Symington MRSS will be talking to us about her sculpture, why and how she made it and the storytelling elements that can be found on it, like the back of the shoulders reflecting the African continent, the direct replication of the Brooks slave ship diagram and a detail of a female figure from the diagram. Olaudah Equiano was known during most of his life as Gustavus Vassa, named after Gustav Vasa, who was elected King of Sweden (and Finland) 500 years ago, this year, hence the Nordic connection, inspiring us to discover more about Olaudah Equiano. Credits: © Sculpture 'OLAUDAH EQUIANO – African, slave, author, abolitionist’ (2006) Bronze by Christy Symington MRSS / DACS 2023. Film by Martin Smith.