CuratorSpace Artist Bursary #26: Milly Aburrow

Through a playful colour palette and a comical stylisation, Milly Aburrow's work characterises the parameters of commercialisation, consumerist society, and particularly contemporary food culture. She was a recipient of the Kenneth Armitage Young Sculpture Prize 2023 and exhibits in galleries across the UK.

"My practice focuses on the relationship between consumption and personal identity, using food, material goods, and fashion to explore how everyday choices reflect who we are. This interest developed during my first year at university when my diet consisted mainly of prawn cocktail crisps and strawberry Nesquik. At the same time, my wardrobe exploded into pink, a physical manifestation of my consumption habits influencing my outward appearance.

For my debut solo exhibition at 44AD artspace in February 2025, I’m creating an immersive installation inspired by pub culture and the communal experience of sharing crisps. These snacks carry personal meaning for me. More than a nostalgic treat, they symbolise convenience, reward, and independence.

As someone with left-side Cerebral Palsy, food preparation is often a challenge. When I participated in a Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy trial as a child, crisps were my prize for successfully using my left hand. They became a marker of achievement and have remained a constant in my life, representing both comfort and autonomy.

This project takes that concept further, examining how the foods we consume and the objects we surround ourselves with shape our identities. I draw on my lived experience as a disabled artist and a member of the LGBTQ+ community, combining personal narratives with broader cultural research into the symbolic and emotional resonance of food.

A key element of the show will be custom mirrors that reflect themes of identity and perception. These mirrors will be assembled with the help of my grandad, who assists me with all woodworking tasks that I find physically challenging. The custom mirrors will be the most technically ambitious part of the project and introduce new possibilities for future work."

You can find out more about Milly's work at www.curatorspace.com/artists/MillyAburrow.

Find out more about the CuratorSpace Artist Bursary and how to apply at bursary.curatorspace.com.

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