Born in Cheshire, England, Cornelia Parker studied at the Gloucestershire College of Art and Design, Wolverhampton Polytechnic, and Reading University. She gained significant critical attention in the 1990s for her ability to transform mundane materials into complex, suspended installations that challenge perceptions of physical stability and historical memory.

Her signature practice involves the manipulation of objects through processes such as explosion, crushing, or stretching. Notable works often feature items like silver plate, architectural debris, or historical artifacts, reconfigured to create immersive environments that explore themes of transformation and the fragility of matter.

Parker was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2010 and was elected to the Royal Academy of Arts in 2009. Her work continues to be featured in major international exhibitions and is held in the permanent collections of institutions including the Tate and the Museum of Modern Art.