Emii Alrai
Born 1993 / Blackpool / Scotland
Lives and works in UK
Emii Alrai is an artist whose work spans material investigation in relation to memory, critique of the western museological structure and the complexity of ruins. Working primarily in sculpture and installation, her work operates as large-scale realms built in relation to bodies of research which concern archaeology and the natural environments objects are excavated from. Her practice weaves in oral histories, inherited nostalgia and the details of language to question the rigidity of Empire and the power of hierarchy to interpolate the static presence of history. The installations physically weave together hand built clay vessels which are patinated to look like ancient artefacts, steel braces and polystyrene hewn into amorphous landscapes.
Mimicry and theatricality are at the heart of the work, with forms covered in gypsum, sand, tar and various pigments to create monumental environments that replicate the ideas of a romanticised past and the histories of archaeological excavation. In this material exploration in relation to bodies of research, Alrai’s practice allows for conversations around memory, nostalgia and language to surface critiquing current structures of rigidity and how these may stem from the lasting shadow of imperialism. Beyond merely critiquing or reproducing these structures, the work’s bending of time and space imagines ways in which to go forward in our understanding of history, its retelling and its romanticism and opens dialogue with the ways we engage history in our construction of the future.
Selected Works
Emii Alrai
Ransoms (2025)
Steel, clay, copper, patinates, pigment
177 x 161 x 37 cm (70 × 63 × 15 in)
Ransoms (2025)
Steel, clay, copper, patinates, pigment
177 x 161 x 37 cm (70 × 63 × 15 in)
Emii Alrai
Ransoms (2025)
Steel, clay, copper, patinates, pigment
177 x 161 x 37 cm (70 × 63 × 15 in)
Emii Alrai
Guardian (2025)
jesmonite, pigment, foam, steel
300 x 350 x 150 cm (118 × 138 × 59 in)
Guardian (2025)
jesmonite, pigment, foam, steel
300 x 350 x 150 cm (118 × 138 × 59 in)
Emii Alrai
Guardian (2025)
jesmonite, pigment, foam, steel
300 x 350 x 150 cm (118 × 138 × 59 in)
Emii Alrai
Dam Part, Fountain (2021-2025)
British gypsum, polystyrene, sand, steel
108 x 240 x 40.5 cm (42.5 × 94.5 × 15 in)
Dam Part, Fountain (2021-2025)
British gypsum, polystyrene, sand, steel
108 x 240 x 40.5 cm (42.5 × 94.5 × 15 in)
Emii Alrai
Dam Part, Fountain (2021-2025)
British gypsum, polystyrene, sand, steel
108 x 240 x 40.5 cm (42.5 × 94.5 × 15 in)
Emii Alrai
Meridian (2024)
Bitumen on paper
60.5 x 80.5 cm (24 × 32 in)
Meridian (2024)
Bitumen on paper
60.5 x 80.5 cm (24 × 32 in)
Emii Alrai
Meridian (2024)
Bitumen on paper
60.5 x 80.5 cm (24 × 32 in)
Emii Alrai
Passing of the Lilies (2024)
Polystyrene
300 x 90 x 70 cm (118 × 35 × 28 in)
Passing of the Lilies (2024)
Polystyrene
300 x 90 x 70 cm (118 × 35 × 28 in)
Emii Alrai
Passing of the Lilies (2024)
Polystyrene
300 x 90 x 70 cm (118 × 35 × 28 in)
Emii Alrai
Mast Head, Half Flag (2024)
Plywood, hay, straw, metal wire, gypsum, hops, jute and pewter nails
197 x 122 x 9 cm each panel (78 × 48 × 3.5 in)
Mast Head, Half Flag (2024)
Plywood, hay, straw, metal wire, gypsum, hops, jute and pewter nails
197 x 122 x 9 cm each panel (78 × 48 × 3.5 in)
Emii Alrai
Mast Head, Half Flag (2024)
Plywood, hay, straw, metal wire, gypsum, hops, jute and pewter nails
197 x 122 x 9 cm each panel (78 × 48 × 3.5 in)
Emii Alrai
Drinkers of the Wind (2023)
Steel, wood, hay, mesh, tadelakt
700 x 220 x 50 cm (275 × 87 × 20 in)
Drinkers of the Wind (2023)
Steel, wood, hay, mesh, tadelakt
700 x 220 x 50 cm (275 × 87 × 20 in)
Emii Alrai
Drinkers of the Wind (2023)
Steel, wood, hay, mesh, tadelakt
700 x 220 x 50 cm (275 × 87 × 20 in)
Emii Alrai
Spleen (2022)
British gypsum plaster, polystyrene, water, glue, steel, vinegar, fertiliser, salt
196 x 136 x 40 cm (77 × 53.5 × 16 in)
Spleen (2022)
British gypsum plaster, polystyrene, water, glue, steel, vinegar, fertiliser, salt
196 x 136 x 40 cm (77 × 53.5 × 16 in)
Emii Alrai
Spleen (2022)
British gypsum plaster, polystyrene, water, glue, steel, vinegar, fertiliser, salt
196 x 136 x 40 cm (77 × 53.5 × 16 in)
Emii Alrai
Coude (2022)
British gypsum plaster, polystyrene, water, glue, copper leaf, steel, vinegar, fertiliser, salt
245 x 70 x 80 cm (96 × 27 × 31 in)
Coude (2022)
British gypsum plaster, polystyrene, water, glue, copper leaf, steel, vinegar, fertiliser, salt
245 x 70 x 80 cm (96 × 27 × 31 in)
Emii Alrai
Coude (2022)
British gypsum plaster, polystyrene, water, glue, copper leaf, steel, vinegar, fertiliser, salt
245 x 70 x 80 cm (96 × 27 × 31 in)
Emii Alrai
Cygnet Votive (2021)
Terracotta, copper, patinate, steel armature
10 x 8 x 7 cm (4 × 3 × 2.8 in)
Cygnet Votive (2021)
Terracotta, copper, patinate, steel armature
10 x 8 x 7 cm (4 × 3 × 2.8 in)
Emii Alrai
Cygnet Votive (2021)
Terracotta, copper, patinate, steel armature
10 x 8 x 7 cm (4 × 3 × 2.8 in)
Emii Alrai
Swan Votive (2021)
Terracotta, copper, patinate, steel armature
10 x 9 x 7 cm (4 × 3.5 × 2.8 in)
Swan Votive (2021)
Terracotta, copper, patinate, steel armature
10 x 9 x 7 cm (4 × 3.5 × 2.8 in)
Emii Alrai
Swan Votive (2021)
Terracotta, copper, patinate, steel armature
10 x 9 x 7 cm (4 × 3.5 × 2.8 in)
Emii Alrai
Scone with Three Spear Bull Votive (2021)
Jesmonite, terracotta, copper, patinate, steel armatur
100 x 30 cm (40 × 11.8 in)
Scone with Three Spear Bull Votive (2021)
Jesmonite, terracotta, copper, patinate, steel armatur
100 x 30 cm (40 × 11.8 in)
Emii Alrai
Scone with Three Spear Bull Votive (2021)
Jesmonite, terracotta, copper, patinate, steel armatur
100 x 30 cm (40 × 11.8 in)
Emii Alrai
Ichor, for The Courtship of Giants (2021)
Ink on paper
28.5 x 19.5 cm (11 × 8 in)
Ichor, for The Courtship of Giants (2021)
Ink on paper
28.5 x 19.5 cm (11 × 8 in)
Emii Alrai
Ichor, for The Courtship of Giants (2021)
Ink on paper
28.5 x 19.5 cm (11 × 8 in)
Emii Alrai
Tare, for The Courtship of Giants (2021)
Ink on paper
31 x 44 cm (12 × 17 in)
Tare, for The Courtship of Giants (2021)
Ink on paper
31 x 44 cm (12 × 17 in)
Emii Alrai
Tare, for The Courtship of Giants (2021)
Ink on paper
31 x 44 cm (12 × 17 in)
Emii Alrai
Flay, for The Courtship of Giants (2021)
Ink on paper
31 x 44 cm (12 × 17 in)
Flay, for The Courtship of Giants (2021)
Ink on paper
31 x 44 cm (12 × 17 in)
Emii Alrai
Flay, for The Courtship of Giants (2021)
Ink on paper
31 x 44 cm (12 × 17 in)
Emii Alrai
Drinkers of the Wind (2023)
Steel, wood, hay, mesh, tadelakt
700 x 220 x 50 cm (275 × 87 × 20 in)
Drinkers of the Wind (2023)
Steel, wood, hay, mesh, tadelakt
700 x 220 x 50 cm (275 × 87 × 20 in)
Emii Alrai
Drinkers of the Wind (2023)
Steel, wood, hay, mesh, tadelakt
700 x 220 x 50 cm (275 × 87 × 20 in)
Emii Alrai
Spleen (2022)
British gypsum plaster, polystyrene, water, glue, steel, vinegar, fertiliser, salt
196 x 136 x 40 cm (77 × 53.5 × 16 in)
Spleen (2022)
British gypsum plaster, polystyrene, water, glue, steel, vinegar, fertiliser, salt
196 x 136 x 40 cm (77 × 53.5 × 16 in)
Emii Alrai
Spleen (2022)
British gypsum plaster, polystyrene, water, glue, steel, vinegar, fertiliser, salt
196 x 136 x 40 cm (77 × 53.5 × 16 in)
Emii Alrai
Coude (2022)
British gypsum plaster, polystyrene, water, glue, copper leaf, steel, vinegar, fertiliser, salt
245 x 70 x 80 cm (96 × 27 × 31 in)
Coude (2022)
British gypsum plaster, polystyrene, water, glue, copper leaf, steel, vinegar, fertiliser, salt
245 x 70 x 80 cm (96 × 27 × 31 in)
Emii Alrai
Coude (2022)
British gypsum plaster, polystyrene, water, glue, copper leaf, steel, vinegar, fertiliser, salt
245 x 70 x 80 cm (96 × 27 × 31 in)
Emii Alrai
Cygnet Votive (2021)
Terracotta, copper, patinate, steel armature
10 x 8 x 7 cm (4 × 3 × 2.8 in)
Cygnet Votive (2021)
Terracotta, copper, patinate, steel armature
10 x 8 x 7 cm (4 × 3 × 2.8 in)
Emii Alrai
Cygnet Votive (2021)
Terracotta, copper, patinate, steel armature
10 x 8 x 7 cm (4 × 3 × 2.8 in)
Emii Alrai
Swan Votive (2021)
Terracotta, copper, patinate, steel armature
10 x 9 x 7 cm (4 × 3.5 × 2.8 in)
Swan Votive (2021)
Terracotta, copper, patinate, steel armature
10 x 9 x 7 cm (4 × 3.5 × 2.8 in)
Emii Alrai
Swan Votive (2021)
Terracotta, copper, patinate, steel armature
10 x 9 x 7 cm (4 × 3.5 × 2.8 in)
Emii Alrai
Scone with Three Spear Bull Votive (2021)
Jesmonite, terracotta, copper, patinate, steel armatur
100 x 30 cm (40 × 11.8 in)
Scone with Three Spear Bull Votive (2021)
Jesmonite, terracotta, copper, patinate, steel armatur
100 x 30 cm (40 × 11.8 in)
Emii Alrai
Scone with Three Spear Bull Votive (2021)
Jesmonite, terracotta, copper, patinate, steel armatur
100 x 30 cm (40 × 11.8 in)
Emii Alrai
Ichor, for The Courtship of Giants (2021)
Ink on paper
28.5 x 19.5 cm (11 × 8 in)
Ichor, for The Courtship of Giants (2021)
Ink on paper
28.5 x 19.5 cm (11 × 8 in)
Emii Alrai
Ichor, for The Courtship of Giants (2021)
Ink on paper
28.5 x 19.5 cm (11 × 8 in)
Emii Alrai
Tare, for The Courtship of Giants (2021)
Ink on paper
31 x 44 cm (12 × 17 in)
Tare, for The Courtship of Giants (2021)
Ink on paper
31 x 44 cm (12 × 17 in)
Emii Alrai
Tare, for The Courtship of Giants (2021)
Ink on paper
31 x 44 cm (12 × 17 in)
Emii Alrai
Flay, for The Courtship of Giants (2021)
Ink on paper
31 x 44 cm (12 × 17 in)
Flay, for The Courtship of Giants (2021)
Ink on paper
31 x 44 cm (12 × 17 in)
Emii Alrai
Flay, for The Courtship of Giants (2021)
Ink on paper
31 x 44 cm (12 × 17 in)
Exhibitions
A Permanent Nostalgia for Departure : A Rehearsal on Legacy with Zaha Hadid
23 September 2023 - 28 January 2024
CAC presents group exhibition featuring Emii Alrai, curated by Maite Borjabad López-Pastor
Reverse Defence
26 July - 2 November 2025
Workplace Foundation presents 'Reverse Defence' a solo exhibition by Emii Alrai in Newcastle
Fragment and Form
18 July – 2 November 2025
Henry Moore Institute presents a group exhibition of works by Emii Alrai, Mónica Mays and Dominique White
Capture
26 July - 2 November 2025
Towner Eastbourne presents 'Capture' a solo exhibition by Emii Alrai
Selected Press
Jonathan Jones
Review of Emii Alrai: River of Black Stone at Compton Verney
Guardian / Feb 2025
Ingrid Angermeyer
Review of Emii Alrai: A Lake as Great as Its Bones at Maximillian William, England
ArteFuse / July 2024
Skye Sherwin
Emii Alrai on getting to grips with scarred histories
Art Fund / June 2022
Skye Sherwin
Review of Emii Alrai: A Core of Scar at The Hepworth Wakefield
Sculpture Magazine / June 2022