Biography – Nathalie Coste

A Joyous Vision of Apocalypse,

Nathalie Coste is a French visual artist based in Southeast London. Coste is predominantly a sculptor. Her practice is led by her background in textile design, developed through years of work in the fashion and craft industries (1993–2013). She learned that fabric is a magic medium that she can use to add volume to the drawings she archives in small notebooks. In 2013 Coste’s started incorporating sculptural work into fashion design, using recycled materials and low-tech devices. She combines her embroidery, pattern cutting, and moulage skills to create psychedelic and ghostly shapes. Coste places her sculptures against Sci-Fi-inspired digital backgrounds and integrates electronic elements like stock exchange LED boards and recycled car parts into her installations.

During her ongoing Master’s at TOMA (The Other MA), Coste engaged in a project titled “B.R.E.A.D,” which takes inspiration from the petrified bread loaves of Pompeii as the starting point for a broader artistic and research-based exploration that began in May 2024. This project investigates temporality, transformation, and cultural continuity through a multidisciplinary approach that combines sculptural tableware crafted from sandstone, bespoke furniture design, and the revival of ancient recipes.

At the heart of this project lies the intention to create communal experiences where individuals from diverse backgrounds can gather to share food, thoughts, and conversations, thereby creating a contemporary dialogue that echoes the social practices of ancient Pompeii. These gatherings aim to document and reflect on the impermanence of life, drawing parallels between the ‘snapshot’ of Pompeii’s society preserved in time and a potential ‘snapshot’ of our contemporary world.

Grants and Funding

2022. Awardee Thamesmead Culture Fund.
2021. Awardee Estuary Festival.
2021. Awardee Thamesmead Culture Fund.

Commissions

2023. Thamesmead festival ” The Rainbow Bridge”. Art Installation by << L’Afreak >> collective, London, UK.
2022. SET Woolwich. “Never Ending Story”. Participatory Art Installation, London, UK.
2022. TACO X Hundred club. “Create a forest”, Participatory Art Installation, London, UK.
2022. Musson & Retallick. Participatory Art Installation, London, UK.
2021. Emergency Exit Art X Peabody. Public Artwork Installation, London, UK.
2021. Royal Docks Events X Bowarts. Public Artwork Installation, installation, Royal Albert Wharf, London, UK.
2021. Serious x Peabody. Public Artwork installations, London, UK.
2021. Estuary Festival X Bowarts “Climate Change Stock Exchange” Participatory Art Installation, London, UK.
2019/2021. Bin Bin Inc. Laura Leezy / Khruangbin USA + EU tour Costumes Design. NYC, USA.
2020. Serious x Peabody. Guerrilla Art installations, London.
2019. We Are the Fair x Peabody “Dear Disco balls”. Public Artwork, Light installation, London,UK.
2019. Nadia Tehran EU tour. Stage costume design, London, UK.
2019. Honour Clothing. Art Direction + Design, London, UK.
2017/2018. Colore by Jay. Art direction + Design, London, UK.
2015/2016. Pretty Box. Art Direction + Design, Paris, France.
2006/2015. VILAC, Art Direction and new lines development, France.
2013/2015. Emmaus France. Recycled Textile and Accessories Design, Participatory Art performances, Marseilles, France.
2013. Le Printemps Paris X Citadium – Art Direction and conception of Christmas Windows, Paris, France.
2013. Rock en Seine X Converse, Public Artwork installation, Paris, France.
2013. Festival Mimi, Public Artwork installation, Marseilles, France.
2013. Festival YEAH! Public Artwork installation, Lourmarin, France.
1990. Atomic Rave X Friche Belle de Mai. Public Artwork, Light sculptures installation, Marseilles, France.

Panel Member

• 2019/2021.Thamesmead Festival panel group.

Group Exhibitions

2024. Electro Studios Project Space, “We Are Family”, curated by Julia Kotziamani, Saint-Leonards- on-Sea UK.
2024. Nunnery Gallery, “A Personal Treasure”, curated by Lindsey Mendick, London UK.
2024. Lakeside Centre Media Space, “TREASURE”, curated by Dad Studio, london UK.
2023. Gallery 32, “Winter Sculpture Park”, curated by Meg Stuart and Kieran Idle , Bexley UK.
2023. Safehouse1, “Impermanent”, curated by Alice Campos and Luke Felstead, London UK.
2022. Deptford Contemporary Gallery x Fringe, “It’s Real Outside”, curated by Karolina Glusiec & Jamie Temple, London, UK.
2022. SET Woolwich Gallery, “Theme Park Exhibition”, curated by Darren Le, London, UK.
2022. Safehouse 2, “The Sun is Out”, curated by Luke Felstead and Alice Campos, London, UK.
2021. Nunnery Gallery, Open Bow, curated by Gal Dem, London, UK.
2015. Lievre de Mars Gallery, “Chambre Forte”, Marseilles, France.

Education

2024-2026. Master Art and Politics – TOMA – The Other MA , Southend on Sea, UK.
1993. DNSAP, Master Art and Design – ESADMM, University of art and design of Marseilles, France.
1988.Textile Design + Pattern Cutting, diplôma of higher education- ESMOD, Paris, France.

Press, Media and Books featuring my work

2022. “It’s Real Outside” published by Deptford Contemporary.
2021. Bremond’s Chat Show,Netil Radio podcast.
2020. Contributor Magazine, online.
2020. VOGUE Bulgaria, printed issue.
2020. FGUK magazine, printed issue.
2020. Kaltblut magazine, online.
2019. Dreamingless magazine, printed issue.
2019. Just magazine, online.
2019. Kaltbult magazine, online.
2019. Black Mag, online
2019. COY Culture, printed issue.
2019. Fword Magazine, online.
2019. Desnudo Italia, printed issue.
2019. Nataal media, online.
2019. Cake magazine, printed issue.
2019.Tocsick Magazine, online.
2019. London College of Fashion- UAL, short film, online.
2019. Blanc Magazine, printed issue.
2019. L’ OFFICIEL Lithuania, printed issue.
2019. Sicky Mag, printed issue.
2019. Lyun Magazine, printed issue.
2019. Duel Magazine, short film and printed issue.
2019. Peaches Magazine, printed issue.
2019. 1883 Magazine, printed issue.
2019. Basic Magazine, printed issue.
2019. Opalus Magazine, printed issue.
2019. VOGUE Italia, online.
2019. Gay Times magazine, printed issue.
2019. Pentagone Magazine, online.
2019. Nicotine Magazine, printed issue.
2019. PAP magazine, online.
2019. Leica Fotografie internazionale, online.
2019. Modisch Magazine, printed issue.
2019. Kaltblut Magazine, printed issue.
2018. Feroce Magazine, printed issue.
2018. Trend Prive Magazine, printed issue.
2018. Design Scene, printed issue.
2018. Neo 2 Mag, printed issue.
2018. VGXW Magazine, printed issue.
2018. V.Riot Studio, online.
2018. Toksick magazine, online.
2018. Doux Magazine, online.
2018. Boyfriend magazine, online.
2018. Jute magazine, printed issue.
2018. Risk magazine,online.
2018. Splendor magazine,online.
2018. Schon magazine, printed issue.
2018. Teeth Magazine, printed issue.
2018. Pansymag, printed issue.
2018. Hunger Magazine.
2015.” Chambre Forte”,published by Le lièvre de Mars.