If "decadent desserts" raise your pulse, Tasha Marks is certainly one to watch. An artist and food historian, Marks believes that presenting food as art will change the way we eat.
London-based Marks started her career with renowned "jellymongers" Bompas and Parr. Although not a trained chef, her work with the jelly duo, combined with studying the history of art and food at university, helped her to develop a well-trained eye for unexpected and inventive food creations. She specialises in taking an artwork, location or theme as inspiration, and responding to it with a unique and curious edible invention. By exploring our relationship with food in a historical context, she uses food as an artistic medium to create a far more immersive experience than traditional art or food alone would offer.
In 2011, Marks founded Animal Vegetable Mineral (AVM Curiosities), exploring the relationship between art and food through specialised catering for events including festivals, parties and pop-up experiences. An ambitious boutique food events business, AVM aims to create a moment of wonder, "a contemporary cabinet of curiosity that is silly and cerebral in equal measure". Coming from a conceptual standpoint, with a vision to "challenge the way we perceive food", AVM is heavily influenced by history, with interests ranging from 16th century curiosity cabinets, to 1930s medicinal cookery.
Marks's most recent edible explorations include the Toxic Treats at House of Wolf, which delved into Britain's long history of fraudulent foodstuffs. This lecture on our shady past was accompanied by unique nibbles including Marks's take on "fake coffee beans", made from chocolate and chicory. Other events have included a Super Sour Exploding Cocktail Bar, and she is also the brains behind inventions such as inhalable cakes, funeral biscuits and biblical chocolate infused with gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Support Tasha Marks
To elevate edible art to the status of more traditional art forms, Tasha needs the support of those who share her vision. This summer, she will look to raise awareness of the creative possibilities offered by edible art through a series of immersive events. In June, she'll hold an edible art class, featuring lickable life drawing and edible paint by numbers. You can purchase tickets to the events here.
Then in September, Tasha will give two lectures at the V&A, examining the history of food as an artistic medium. You will also be able to order a Tasha Marks inspired Grey Goose cocktail at the Gilbert Scott.
