7 April 2011 Last updated at 09:34

The surreal world of Nancy Fouts

A piece by American artist Nancy Fouts, entitled Purse with Teeth (2010), pictured during a press preview of her exhibition Un-think, at the Pertwee, Anderson and Gold gallery in Soho, central London

An exhibition of surreal - and sometimes controversial - art by US-born Nancy Fouts opens this week at the new London art gallery co-founded by the actor Sean Pertwee. Photo: Purse with Teeth (2010)

American artist Nancy Fouts next to her piece entitled Rabbit with Curlers (2010) at a press preview of her exhibition Un-think

For her artworks, Fouts (pictured) often marries together two unrelated objects, leaving the viewer to interpret their meaning. Fouts (pictured) says: "I hoard stuff in boxes and then I lay it all out and many ideas happen like that."

Rabbit with Curlers (2010) by Nancy Fouts, pictured at a press preview of her exhibition Un-think

Fouts re-engineers her chosen objects, transforming each one into a surprise version of itself. She says: "It's not deep, but it is entertaining and it makes people smile." Photo: Rabbit with Curlers (2010).

Jacqueline Harrison studies work by American artist Nancy Fouts, entitled Mouse Bulbs Series, Dave (2011), during a press preview of her exhibition Un-think, at Pertwee, Anderson and Gold gallery in Soho, central London

Fouts often explores the theme of freedom and release using stuffed mice and birds. The Pertwee, Anderson and Gold gallery launched in February inside a former Soho recording studio and is run by the actor Sean Pertwee and Simon Anderson and James Golding. Photo: Mouse Bulbs Series, Dave (2011).

Co-owner of the gallery, actor Sean Pertwee, pictured during a press preview of American artist Nancy Fouts exhibition Un-think

Sean Pertwee (pictured) says: "What I love about Nancy's work is way she makes the ordinary extraordinary, and her humour. Everything she does is beautifully engineered and made." The coffin in the photo forms a central part of the exhibition, and was driven round London in a hearse earlier this week as a publicity stunt.

A piece by American artist Nancy Fouts, entitled Toothbrush (2010), at a press preview of her exhibition Un-think

The son of the late Doctor Who actor Jon Pertwee adds: "My father was a big collector so I've always appreciated art, and I thought I wanted to be an artist at one point but I realised I was far too happy!" Photo: Toothbrush (2010).

A detail from a piece by American artist Nancy Fouts, entitled Madonna and Teddy Bear

Nancy Fouts says: "My work is not a comment on religion, nature or indeed anything, it is all about manipulating the object to realise my idea. Everything starts with the idea." Picture: Madonna and Teddy Bear (2010).

A piece by American artist Nancy Fouts, entitled Holy War

In Holy War (2010), religious motifs have been added to a sculpture of a hand grenade, juxtaposing religion and conflict. Artist Nancy Fouts lives in London and studied at both the Chelsea College and Royal College of Art.

In Butterfly Dart, the flight of a dart is crafted from the delicate wings of a butterfly, transforming an everyday object into a thing of fantasy. The exhibition, Un-think, opens at the Pertwee, Anderson & Gold gallery in Bateman Street W1 from Friday 8 April.

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The surreal world of Nancy Fouts

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