Bio
Monster Chetwynd (b. 1973, London) lives and works in Zurich. Her multifarious practice – spanning interactive performances, film, collage, painting and installation – interweaves elements of folk spectacle, popular culture and surrealistic cinema.
Chetwynd is known for her anarchistic performance pieces, featuring handmade costumes, props and sets. Describing her work as ‘impatiently made’, she often re-uses materials that are easy to process to create ambitious costumes and scenery, while incorporating eclectic cultural references – from Mae West to Vionnet. At the core of Chetwynd’s practice is an emphasis on the work’s collective development.
“When someone knows your name, but you know nothing about them, then this person has some sort of hold over you. An imposed name allowed the exchange to return to me being empowered and so my private first name is protected. I have changed my name each time as an economical way to gain new direction or territory, and it is still working. I am using the name Monster Chetwynd now, and people call me Monster. It is useful, especially on the rare occasion when I need to be controlling or demanding. People seem to get excited and think to themselves, “Here we go, let her rip… yeah, here’s the Monster”, and they are thrilled. I think the name works well because it is genderless, engulfing and inclusive.”
— Monster Chetwynd 2025
Monster Chetwynd
A friend’s making machine’
May 16, 2026 — October 11, 2026
Middelheim Museum
www.middelheimmuseum.be
Curators: Sara Weyns and Pieter Boons
Middelheim Museum Team: Grietje D'Hollander, Jasper De Ridder, Christiaan Huyghe, Rafaëlle Lelièvre, Samuel Pinillos Garcia, An Roels, Erik Rombaut, Eve Van Goey, Caterina Verdickt, Toon Waroux, Floor Wyns.
Special thanks to: The artist and all performers, Sadie Coles HQ, Middelheim Promotors, Opera Ballet Vlaanderen, Marie Van Praag