Nicola Bowery Rainbird (née Bateman) is a haute couture embroiderer and artist, and one of Leigh Bowery’s closest collaborators. She first met Leigh at his club Taboo in 1985 and went on to work with him on costume designs, performances, and model for Lucian Freud. Before his death in 1994, Leigh and Nicola married in a ceremony he described as a ‘personal art performance’. Since his death Nicola has been the Director and Owner of the Estate of Leigh Bowery, caring for his legacy, and is co-curator of the Leigh Bowery! exhibition.
Outside of her time with Bowery, Nicola has worked with a range of designers including Bella Freud, Rachel Auburn, Rifat Ozbek, Mr Pearl, and made outfits for Michael and Gerlinde Costiff’s shop WORLD, and the Michael Clark Company. She continues to collaborate with artists, including adding sequins to paintings by Boy George.
Nicola will reflect upon the significance of Bowery’s work, her memories of the time, and their work together.
The conversation will be hosted by Fiontán Moran, Curator of International Art at Tate Modern.
