About Tracey Cartledge

I am a Manchester based artist working in Public Art. 

My career in public art began when I finished my fine art degree and landed a job with Partnership Art Limited in Manchester. This position provided valuable experience of working in teams with more established artists, making and installing public art schemes.

“Journey”, for example, is a public art installation sited beneath the approach to Piccadilly Station on London Road in Manchester. Commissioned by the Manchester Central Development Corporation, the piece consists of three tall bronze relief panels and a pavement lighting feature. Diane Gorvin, Phil Bews, Terry Eaton and I worked with students from Shena Simon College to create the panels that were cast by Castle Fine Art Foundry.

Since 1991, when I set up my own business, I have built up a varied portfolio of public art projects. Commissions include the sculptural neon sign for the Bury Met Arts Centre; Moo-lin Rouge for CowParade Manchester; mosaic paving features in Chorley and Preston town centres and in parks all around the North West; decorative forged steel and stainless steel fencing, gates, archways and other features for nature reserves, urban parks, castles, housing estates and private residencies and a number of “Safe Routes to School” schemes.

Moo-lin Rouge, part of 3 can-caning cow showgirls by Tracey Cartledge for CowParade Manchester.

Kingsway Park, Stretford, Manchester. Seating area commemorating the anti-aircraft battery here during the World War II.

stainless steel seat at Victoria Mill Park, Miles Platting, Manchester. Designed by Tracey Cartledge with assistance from Steve Silverstone, Ann Gilligan and ABR Fabrications

The projects I work on frequently involve community engagement. Facilitating workshops and teaching art processes is one of my key skills. I have worked with hundreds of primary and secondary schools, many special educational needs schools and I’ve hosted workshops in museums, libraries, community centres and art centres. I currently work for the Museum of Manchester to deliver workshops in art and humanities as part of the secondary and post 16 curriculum and I also run a weekly mosaic evening class for adults.

Small Tortoiseshell Mosaic by Tracey Cartledge

Repairing the unglazed porcelain mosaic floors at Victoria Station, Manchester, 2014.

I am a professional member and North West Regional Co-ordinator for BAMM – British Association of Modern Mosaic and also a member of AIMC International Assocation of Contemporary Mosaicists. In recent years, I have become increasingly involved in restoration work and the processes of conservation. In 2014 I was contracted to restore all of the mosaic floors at Victoria Rail Station in Manchester as part of it’s £44m refurbishment.

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