Hello and welcome back to Jo’s Art History Podcast. This episode is part of a special five part series, produced in collaboration with British Art Fair and PensionBee, celebrating five artists who’ve found a second act in life through their creative practice. Their work will be shown as part of the Born To exhibition at British Art Fair this September.
The Artist
Kas Williams drew and painted constantly as a child, but was written off academically in the school system of the 1960s, and spent years in what she calls mundane office jobs. A chance conversation in her mid-twenties prompted her to try art college, something she describes as the first time she chose creativity over safety. Four years studying textiles changed her life, and in between periods of study she worked across an extraordinary range of jobs to keep her art alive. At 63 she returned to education to complete a Masters in Textiles, and now in her seventies, she describes her creative drive as as strong as ever.
Featured works:
The Random Flight of Bees and Gothic Bloom
Website: www.kaswilliams.com
Instagram: @kaswilliams
PensionBee
This episode’s PensionBee segment asks: why do we need to know about the gender pension gap?
Thank you to our partner PensionBee, a leading online pension provider on a mission to build pension confidence so that everyone can enjoy a happy retirement. PensionBee’s exciting campaign ‘Born to Retire’ highlights how retirement isn’t the end of your life, it’s just the beginning. In celebration of this campaign, PensionBee is holding a feature exhibition ‘Born To’ at British Art Fair, showcasing what becomes possible when financial security gives people the freedom to pursue their passions. Curated by me, Jo McLaughlin, presenter of Jo’s Art History, the artists featured are all aged 50 and over, with practices that reflect longevity, reinvention, or sustained creative ambition. Discover the exhibition from 24 to 27 September at the Saatchi Gallery, London.
PensionBee’s monthly podcast, The Pension Confident Podcast, aims to help listeners better understand the world of personal finance and pensions. Listen or watch the full episodes on YouTube. Their website and award-winning app help savers understand pensions with helpful tools like their Pension Calculator, blogs, and videos. With PensionBee, you can manage your pension savings online with ease and can combine and contribute from one place. Self-employed pension savers can even open a flexible pension plan, contributing as often or as little as they like. Take control of your retirement today with PensionBee.
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