Linda Devo is a Visual Artist, primarily making sculpture and furniture, a DJ and teacher. Linda is of African, Caribbean and English heritage. Made in South London, raised in Ghana with one foot firmly planted in each continent, Linda’s visual and musical grounding is deeply rooted in these rich seams of realities.
The intersectionality of being an African, Caribbean, European, neurodivergent, queer, disabled 52-year-old gender-fluid person informs Linda’s cultural and political contexts.
Linda’s multidisciplinary practice embraces new technologies, where sustainable and appropriate; traditional hand making skills; an ingenuity of generating workable ideas and finding fixes borne out of growing up West African; along with a sensitivity and awareness of the ethical use of materials.
Linda is deeply concerned about waste and seeks to use materials that might otherwise be discarded from clean industrial resources. They seek to create value,foster connection and encourage participation with audiences, encouraging participation.
It is our shared humanity; the psychological, emotional, practical needs and wants of our species along with an enduring love of materials and making that compels Linda to produce works that interrogate self and society.
The objects Linda makes often have an element of playfulness, are anthropomorphic and encourage interaction and delight between multiple senses.
MA Design 2017 – 2020, University of West England
PGCE Secondary Education in Design 2001, Goldsmiths University
BA Design Studies 1997 – 2001, London Guildhall University
C&G Cabinetmaking 1996 – 1997, London College of Furniture
BTEC 3D Design 1995 – 1997, London Kingsway College
BTEC Mechanical Engineering 1986 – 1988 , East Surrey College
C&G Aeronautical Engineering 1986 – 1988, East Surrey College
Co-producing, designing and making artwork, DJ performances at Obsidian, a venue at Boomtown Fair in Winchester, 2022
DJ Performance solo (1991 – current) and as a member of Booty Bass DJ, a collective of women and non-binary performers – (2018 – Current)
Teaching KS3 – 5 Art, Construction and Design, 2004 – 2021 (Westminster Community Photography Studio; College of NW London; Women’s Education in Building; South Camden Community School; Regents High School, City Academy Bristol; Bristol Futures Academy)
Co-founder, organiser of Kiki Bristol, an award-winning voluntary-led, cultural organisation for QTIPoC (Queer/Trans/Intersex People of Colour) and Allies. Curating and producing arts and cultural events. Our most recent events were in collaboration with the Royal West of England Academy. (here), (here)
Speaker and presentation of paper at 2019 Postgraduate Colloquium of the School of Art & Design and Film & Journalism – ‘Bodies, Discourses and Representations’ at the Arnolfini, Bristol
Winner of UWE’s Dragon’s Den Prize 2019 to develop an innovative wellbeing product; Project managing a multi-disciplinary team to develop the product to prototype stage
UWE Summer Scholarship 2019. Won pitch to secure budget of £2500.00 and business and product development mentorship
Kids Company Bristol Artist/Designer in Residence at Heart Lodge 2014 – 2015
Rolls Royce Prize Runner Up South Camden Community School STEM Project Leader, 2006
Designer, carpenter and cabinet maker making numerous bespoke furniture pieces for the home, 1997 – 2007
info@lindadevo.co.uk
