Lu Williams: Artist, Sculptor, and Founder of Grrrl Zine Fair

Born in 1993 in Essex, Lu Williams is an artist who produces a diverse range of work across sculpture, print, zines, drawing, writing, and video. Their practice is deeply rooted in research, community engagement, and collaboration, often focusing on themes of place, memory, and upbringing. Through the lenses of queerness, neurodivergence, and working-class identity, Williams explores systems, ecology, and the concept of the 'disposable,' transforming ephemeral everyday materials into valued art objects. A significant part of Lu Williams' career involves platforming marginalized voices. In 2015, they established Grrrl Zine Fair, a platform dedicated to self-publishing and DIY culture within feminist art and music. This was followed by the creation of the Grrrl Zine Library in 2017, which houses over 600 queer feminist zines at The Old Waterworks. Additionally, Williams co-founded Dog Ear in 2020 with Emma Edmondson, a project that produces dog toy sculptures alongside artist-led publications. Williams' ongoing research includes 'The Cyberabject,' an inquiry into the intersection of contemporary media, human-built data, and bodily aesthetics. Based in Leigh-on-sea, they maintain a studio at The Old Waterworks in Southend-on-sea. Williams is active in local cultural governance, serving on both the Southend Community Investment Board and the Creative Estuary Board. Their multi-faceted approach combines traditional art forms with social activism and experimental digital research.