The Cultural Legends series is a sculpture collection featuring portraits of luminaries in politics, culture and the arts, including Benjamin Zephaniah, Jools Holland and Bert Jansch.
Each famous portrait required the individual to sit for Jilly in person for a life casting - a process that involves applying a layer of plaster to the subject's face, to be used as mould for the clay portrait that captures their visage. Jilly describes the process of creating their portrait: “Essentially, I am stealing the magical essence of the personality through the life casting process, then boldly, proudly, displaying the man/woman behind the mask. The surrounding details are the result of in-depth conversations, or on a few occasions, a complete flight of fantasy, based on my understanding, and respect, for the artist.”
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For commissions or to purchase a sculpture, contact jillycunningham@yahoo.co.uk.