Our Autumn Open Call Memento Vivere runs October 10th to 18th, featuring twenty-three artists showcasing a range of styles and mediums.

Liam Beaney is a collage artist who is a graduate of the University of Sunderland and is now based in Glasgow. Their work mainly deals with political and social issues. They use their own language of creating collages to depict the scenes in their pieces, utilising magazine cutouts and mixed media of pen and inks. The inspirations for their work include Japanese anime, current affairs, literature, and personal experiences with love, identity, and prejudice.

How did your artistic journey start, Liam?
I’ve always been interested in art, and I always knew I wanted to do something in art. So I’ve gone through the process of college, university, and now to showcasing my work in exhibitions.

How has your practice changed over time?
I have always been drawn to photography and the manipulation of images, like drawing and scratching onto photographs. Initially I used digital images but as I’ve developed as an artist, I’ve found the use of physical images create more texture in my pieces.

How do you know when a piece is complete?
When I was at college, I was taught to think of artworks as never complete. Some pieces I do see as done, but I feel like I can always add to work or develop them further.

What do you do to keep motivated and interested in your work?
I enjoy expanding my use of materials in my work. It’s also a great feeling finally getting the idea from my head onto paper.

What challenges did you experience during the creation of your work and how did you overcome them?
Trying to find the right image to use in my collages can be difficult. I’ve manipulated images so they bend more into my vision, or I’ve found something close which has sparked new ideas to further a piece.

Which artists inspire you? Are there non-artistic influences such as literature or music that impact your work?
Marina Abromovic. I love her performances and the stills from her videos. The rawness of her emotions are so strong. Grayson Perry, his tapestries and pottery have a collage feel to them, the way he composes the overall story of his artworks.

See more of Liam’s work on Instagram. Memento Vivere runs at Six Foot Gallery until Friday 18th October.