Current Projects
St Marylebone Parish Church 2024
In the spring of 2023, Sophie won a competition to respond to the challenge of completing John Crompton's 1880's design for the apse. Canon Jeremy Haselock's sermon at the dedication in February 2024 explains the process:
A short list of contemporary artists was drawn up, each with a track record of producing art for sacred spaces, and three of them were invited to submit detailed proposals for what should fill the tympanum space. The brief was simply to supply what the artist thought was missing. All three produced interesting work characterised by a dynamism, a sense of movement, that is perhaps a missing element in Crompton’s rather static panels. Sophie Hacker’s successful proposal stood out for a number of reasons, not least that it was uncompromisingly contemporary while being sensitive to the context in which it was to appear. The confidence placed in Sophie by the selection panel has been rewarded by a finished work far surpassing the initial proposal in quality and suitability for the space. So now, as you see, beneath the heavenly throne is a swirling cosmic sea, a vortex of divine love, drawing into salvation the whole created and uncreated order.
The new work is now installed, and can be viewed whenever the church is open to the public.
In the spring of 2023, Sophie won a competition to respond to the challenge of completing John Crompton's 1880's design for the apse. Canon Jeremy Haselock's sermon at the dedication in February 2024 explains the process:
A short list of contemporary artists was drawn up, each with a track record of producing art for sacred spaces, and three of them were invited to submit detailed proposals for what should fill the tympanum space. The brief was simply to supply what the artist thought was missing. All three produced interesting work characterised by a dynamism, a sense of movement, that is perhaps a missing element in Crompton’s rather static panels. Sophie Hacker’s successful proposal stood out for a number of reasons, not least that it was uncompromisingly contemporary while being sensitive to the context in which it was to appear. The confidence placed in Sophie by the selection panel has been rewarded by a finished work far surpassing the initial proposal in quality and suitability for the space. So now, as you see, beneath the heavenly throne is a swirling cosmic sea, a vortex of divine love, drawing into salvation the whole created and uncreated order.
The new work is now installed, and can be viewed whenever the church is open to the public.
Working with Sophie has been sheer delight throughout the “Sea of Glass” project. At every stage, Sophie has responded with alacrity, clarity and a clearly expressed and robust rationale for her thinking and design. The project was completed on time and to budget and I don’t think there was a single misunderstanding or problem along the way.
Revd Canon Stephen Evans, Rector of St Marylebone Parish church
Sophie is currently working on a large Orrery for a private estate in central France. This will be bronze, corten steel, stone and brass. For the same estate, she has designed a small hermitage to be built from french stone, studded with jewel-like streaky glass windows, and a slumped glass ceiling. Here, she is working on the wax casts of the planets, taken from her originals, which are currently being cast in bronze. The chocolate brown wax can be gently manipulated with warmed metal tools to achieve the perfect finish. Once cast, the planets will be patinated in rich colours.
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Reliquary of Saint Eanswythe 2023
At the start of 2023, a national competition was launched by the parish of St Mary and St Eanswythe, to design and make a new reliquary to house the remains of this Royal Anglo-Saxon Saint. Sophie was thrilled to be the successful artist, and having worked closely with the PCC and the conservators, she begins fabrication of this glass and brass casket as soon as the Faculty is granted. |
Athena
Florence Nightingale's Little Owl
Patinated Bronze, 24 carat gold eyes. 2023
The commissioning couple writes:
“We commissioned Sophie to produce a sculpture, and then arrange the casting in bronze of a very special owl: Athena, Florence Nightingale‘s pet owl. This little owl has huge meaning for us. It was very easy to work with Sophie, we gave her free rein on the artistic design, but she kept us in touch with the progress she was making and to check what we wanted. She has just delivered us the final sculpture; it is wonderful. She has brought Athena back to life!”
“As an addition, we asked Sophie to write an “artist journal“ recording the twists and turns in the creation of the sculpture. This is very personal and full of detail; we will treasure that as well.”
Florence Nightingale's Little Owl
Patinated Bronze, 24 carat gold eyes. 2023
The commissioning couple writes:
“We commissioned Sophie to produce a sculpture, and then arrange the casting in bronze of a very special owl: Athena, Florence Nightingale‘s pet owl. This little owl has huge meaning for us. It was very easy to work with Sophie, we gave her free rein on the artistic design, but she kept us in touch with the progress she was making and to check what we wanted. She has just delivered us the final sculpture; it is wonderful. She has brought Athena back to life!”
“As an addition, we asked Sophie to write an “artist journal“ recording the twists and turns in the creation of the sculpture. This is very personal and full of detail; we will treasure that as well.”
Artist in Residence
On the first day of Spring, 2022, Sophie took up a one year Arts Residency at the Gilbert White House and Gardens, in Selborne, Hampshire. #JuBEElee was a creative workshop for schoolchildren. Other projects helped raise awareness of the importance of conservation, working alongside craftspeople, and offering creative workshops, along with regular journalling and sketching. Sophie created lasting legacies including two benches using fallen cedar boughs from a vast Cedar of Lebanon (one bench inspired by children's drawings, the other by adults attending a creative workshop which helped tell the story of Gilbert White). She made inks using oak galls, acorn cups and copper, created eco-prints with autumn leaves, desiged unique Nature Journals, cyanotype artworks, small 'found objects', treen objects from fallen timber, and collaged images. All of these will be exhibited at the Final Show in 2025. Please contact the artist if you would like to attend the Private View.
On the first day of Spring, 2022, Sophie took up a one year Arts Residency at the Gilbert White House and Gardens, in Selborne, Hampshire. #JuBEElee was a creative workshop for schoolchildren. Other projects helped raise awareness of the importance of conservation, working alongside craftspeople, and offering creative workshops, along with regular journalling and sketching. Sophie created lasting legacies including two benches using fallen cedar boughs from a vast Cedar of Lebanon (one bench inspired by children's drawings, the other by adults attending a creative workshop which helped tell the story of Gilbert White). She made inks using oak galls, acorn cups and copper, created eco-prints with autumn leaves, desiged unique Nature Journals, cyanotype artworks, small 'found objects', treen objects from fallen timber, and collaged images. All of these will be exhibited at the Final Show in 2025. Please contact the artist if you would like to attend the Private View.
All The Saints
A Covid Memorial for All Saints' Church, Child's Hill, North London.
During WW2, the East Windows of this church were destroyed during a bombing raid, and the voids bricked up. For this community-inspired project, Sophie created five designs celebrating and commemorating the community response to the Covid Pandemic. Another, smaller, light is on the south elevation dedicated particularly to the experience of the children of the parish. These are produced in opaque glass. The final artworks were dedicated by the Bishop of London at the 70th Anniversary of the Re-Dedication of the church, November 6th 2022. Read the Diocesan Press Release here: bishop-of-london-visits-all-saints-church-in-childs-hill-to-view-its-new-covid-19-memorial-artwork
A Covid Memorial for All Saints' Church, Child's Hill, North London.
During WW2, the East Windows of this church were destroyed during a bombing raid, and the voids bricked up. For this community-inspired project, Sophie created five designs celebrating and commemorating the community response to the Covid Pandemic. Another, smaller, light is on the south elevation dedicated particularly to the experience of the children of the parish. These are produced in opaque glass. The final artworks were dedicated by the Bishop of London at the 70th Anniversary of the Re-Dedication of the church, November 6th 2022. Read the Diocesan Press Release here: bishop-of-london-visits-all-saints-church-in-childs-hill-to-view-its-new-covid-19-memorial-artwork
High Security Women's Prison,completed July 2023
An exciting proposal to re-order a multi-faith space with 16 windows, working with the residents to create the designs, based on 'the Healing Garden'. Also a new, interactive sculpture in limewood, The Nest, to enable the residents to express and acknowledge loss . Two National Charities and private donors have generously funded the cost for this ambitious and worthwhile project. The windows have been produced by Proto Studios, and the carving by Alex Jones. |
An example of one of the designs for these windows. All the shapes were created by the residents during a series of workshops, run by Sophie exploring their emotional landscape and memories of gardens and nature. The 16 new windows were fabricated by Proto Glass Studios, and were installed in November 2022.
St Mary's Church, Alderbury, October 2021 onwards..
A new, fixed, all-seasons frontal for the High Altar. The artwork was printed onto heavy silk by R A Smarts, and layered with added textures into a completed design. The fabrication was done by Anna Diamond, and the frontal was dedicated and blessed by the Bishop of Ramsbury in May 2022. Two stoles were also designed by Sophie and fabricated by J&M Sewing. |
Bronze Processional Cross for Winchester Cathedral. In memory of Dean James Atwell, this cross takes its inspiration from Dean James's life as a farmer. Sophie 'gleaned' some wheat from a local farm (with permission!) and created the design from the sheaves gathered there. The Cross was cast at Talos Foundry. The staff and finials were carved by Alex Jones. It was dedicated on May 1, 2022.
Recently, Sophie gilded the cross in 24 carat gold leaf. |
Teaching and Speaking engagements 2024
On April 3, Sophie is delivering a lecture as part of the Marylebone Festival, 'Art in the Apse', sharing seldom seen details of the Crompton Apse, and her own contribution A Sea of Glass Like Unto Crystal. Tickets are £5. stmarylebone.org/
A Creative Retreat will be held at The Royal Foundation St Katherine in May 2024, called Preparing for Pentecost. Please contact the Retreat Centre for bookings. www.rfsk.org.uk
During 2024, Sophie is leading three creative days at Sarum College. Please contact them for details. www.sarum.ac.uk
On April 3, Sophie is delivering a lecture as part of the Marylebone Festival, 'Art in the Apse', sharing seldom seen details of the Crompton Apse, and her own contribution A Sea of Glass Like Unto Crystal. Tickets are £5. stmarylebone.org/
A Creative Retreat will be held at The Royal Foundation St Katherine in May 2024, called Preparing for Pentecost. Please contact the Retreat Centre for bookings. www.rfsk.org.uk
During 2024, Sophie is leading three creative days at Sarum College. Please contact them for details. www.sarum.ac.uk