My work is driven by rhythm, geometry and the instinctive desire to carve. I try to create forms that feel alive – pieces that carry movement and energy even in their stillness.
Born in Pakistan, brought up in Lancashire and now living and working in Shropshire, Halima Cassell MBE brings a rich, multi-cultural perspective to her practice. The influences of her Asian heritage, African pattern traditions and a deep interest in architectural geometry can all be felt in her sculpture. These threads combine to create a language that is both personal and universal – works that balance precision with intuition, strength with delicacy.
Cassell’s creativity emerged early and was nurtured throughout her art-based education, culminating in a BA in 1997 and an MA in 2002. From these foundations she developed a mature and recognisable sculptural voice: strong geometric structures, carved surfaces, repeated rhythms and a sense of movement that appears to pulse through the form. She often begins with simple shapes, using them as a framework for complex relief carving and dramatic shifts in contour. The result is sculpture that is visually powerful, tactile and architecturally grounded.
Her work frequently explores the universal language of numbers – how symmetry, proportion and repetition can convey harmony, tension or flow. Using dense surfaces and solid forms, she carves to her chosen depth to reveal patterns that feel both ancient and forward-looking. This duality is central to her work.
In 2021 Cassell was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the Queen’s New Year Honours for her services to art. In 2023 she was shortlisted, alongside Thomas Heatherwick, for the design of the Queen’s Memorial, highlighting her significance within contemporary British sculpture.
Her work is represented in major national and international collections, including the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Hepworth Wakefield and Birmingham Art Gallery, among others.
The Soden Collection is proud to present her latest body of work, the Shards, which is available exclusively through the gallery. This series distils her sculptural language into dynamic, carved forms that celebrate movement, tension and the interplay of light and shadow.
To arrange a viewing at the gallery or to book an appointment at Halima’s Shropshire studio, please contact the Soden Collection.