"Contemporary mixed-media artist transforming vintage maps into colour-rich geometric artworks exploring place, memory and belonging."
Amelia Coward is a British contemporary artist whose work transforms vintage maps and archival printed material into intricate, colour-rich geometric collages.
Trained in Textile Design at Central Saint Martins and Woven Textiles at the Royal College of Art, Amelia brings the principles of weaving—rhythm, repetition, structure and the interaction of colour—to her artistic practice.
Each artwork begins with carefully selected maps, atlases, botanical books or encyclopedias. These original papers are hand-bonded onto birch wood, laser-cut into individual circles or strips, and meticulously arranged by hand. The resulting surfaces sit between collage, painting and sculpture, with a subtle three-dimensional quality that changes as light moves across the work.
Through her use of maps, Amelia explores ideas of place, memory, migration, belonging and the shifting nature of borders. Based in Kent, England, she works from an extensive archive of maps collected over more than 25 years.
Her work ranges from intimate pieces to large-scale artworks for residential, hospitality, healthcare and corporate interiors worldwide. Bespoke commissions can incorporate personally significant locations, carefully considered colour palettes and site-specific dimensions.