“My current practice represents the spirit of DIY and demonstrates my ingenuity through methods and materials used.”
Born in 1990, Liverpool, and raised in Ayrshire, Laura is currently based in Glasgow having graduated from Grays School of Art, BA Hons, 2013 & Glasgow School of Art, MLitt 2019. She has held a wide range of residencies and exhibitions including Artist is Residence, Shed Eisenwerk (Switzerland, 2022), Paper Cave Anti-Rave* (The Pipe Factory, Glasgow, 2020), and the RSA Open (Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh, 2018). Laura has also won a number of awards including RSA Art Prize (2014), The Maclaine Watters Medal and was shortlisted for the BP Art Prize (2013).
McGlinchey’s work blurs the boundaries between Painting, Sculpture and Installation. She explores discarded materials; plastics, fruit nets, paper, ring pulls, for example. The final pieces and installations create environments entirely different to something that the general public have experienced before but made from everyday detritus. Her use of found materials engages members of the public in helping them find moments of the familiar in the unfamiliar, making the art more a part of their world.
“My current project is restricting myself to only using discarded materials which I’ve been collecting for the past three years. Mainly from hospitality and venue work; plastic wrapping, fruit nets, fabric scraps, shredded paper, ring pulls, tealight holders, bottle caps.”
For Hidden Door’s 2025 Festival, McGlinchey presents Trash Cave / Waste Is Only Waste If We Waste it. This project will be a large scale, multidisciplinary and interactive installation, completely transforming the space from floor to ceiling. Ensconced in this cave-like structure the audience can participate through the joy of discovery, exploring, almost recognising something through the dangling shredded layers and gravity defying papier-mâché and plastic structures.
“Visually nodding to the debris left after a party or at the club. Harnessing chance and disorder, creating a fluid, tranquil setting – surreal yet familiar. The goal is to create an experience entirely different to general “everyday” life, while being made entirely from everyday waste materials.”
Attendees are invited to move freely through the exhibition and explore its various pathways and openings. This would also make a great place for attendees to relax, unwind and maybe even open up a conversation about waste.
“The bigger the space the better for me.”
Find out more at instagram.com/lauraglitch
