We’re big fans of a disco ball at Left Bank! It’s one of the reasons why we’re such big fans of local artist Sarah Thornton’s work; her amazing disco ball pieces are reminders of creativity, dancing and great times with pals — and we’re lucky to have a few of them on display in our space!

We recently spoke to Sarah about her journey as an artist, what inspires her work and more.
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Hello Sarah! Can you tell us about being an artist?

I’ve always been an artist. I took the History and Theory of Art and Design course at Leeds Metropolitan University. I dropped out of that course after a year because what I really wanted to study was fine art. Later on I ended up studying fine art at the University of Leeds.

Our year became very notorious for our end of year project called “Going Places”; it was a collective piece that became a massive news story all over the world. 
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We love your work — especially the disco balls!

I’ve always drawn them! They’re such a beautiful symbol of unity; we all dance under the same mirror ball. The experience of music is not defined by language and it’s truly unifying. I became really interested in light as a metaphor — how it bounces off the disco ball and breaks up into so many different pieces. Also how it goes from small squares to circles as the light travels.

I’ve become increasingly interested in this idea of the myriad of mirror ball of methodology — how many different ways you can think of any different subject in relation to a mirror ball and all it’s bouncing lights.

That’s really interesting.

They’re also just something beautiful; something to escape into. There’s that magpie that exists inside of me — attracted to this shiny, detailed joyous object. A lot of art for me is pain relief. It’s a place to put my mind, and a journey. And music has been such a strong part of my life. I think if you cut me through there would just be seams of tunes — I have a tune in me all the time!

We’re so excited to have these pieces on display at Left Bank. What’s your relationship to LS6?

This is my area in some ways! I grew up in Harehills but my family moved back into LS6 when I was 12. My dad actually lived in the back-to-back terrace housing very close to here. It’s a place that sits really strongly in my heart. Left Bank was always a building that really intrigued me. It’s exterior has a very different look to the interior — it’s an exquisitely exceptional space.

I love that churches have been able to transcend their former life but still maintain the congregations of people in a new way. But I absolutely love it. I think it’s a really important building for the local community as well as the art community. 
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Check out Sarah’s incredible disco ball pieces, now on display at Left Bank. You can follow her on Instagram here, or visit her website here!