Bio & CV

© Debbie Sears

British artist, writer and curator working in London.

Exhibitions include tactileBosch, Cardiff (2021); DOOResidency, Amsterdam (2021); Everything Forever, an online exhibition in collaboration with Silicon Valet, Montez Press Radio NY, Off Site Project and New Critique (2021); Apple Blossom Sky, published by New Critique (2021); 302_Direct in collaboration with this is tomorrow, Montez Press Radio NY, Low_Res_Camera_Roll and ‘& Inevitable bedding within’ circulated by the ICA, London (2020); Spike Island Open Studios (Studio 105), Bristol (2019); The Constructors Gallery, outdoor gallery, Southern end of Blackfriars Bridge for Transport for London with support from Southwark Council (2018); Craft+Conflict, Rural Touring Scheme: Cumbria, Co Durham & Northumberland (2018), London Creative Network SPACE / LCN Showcase 2nd Edition at SPACE, London (2017); Truth Lies Within at Phytology, The Bethnal Green Nature Reserve, London and The Subculture Archives, Carnaby Street, London (2017). Collaborative projects include: PeerSocial hosted by Raven Row (2020) and Cubitt (2019) supported by Artquest Peer Forum; Pillow Talk at Austrian Cultural Forum and Uniqlo Tate Lates February, Tate Modern, London (2018); One Nation Under a Groove live drawing event, Festival of Love, Southbank Centre, London (2015), amongst others. Her work is held in private collections in the UK and internationally. She is Resident Artist for the Museum of Youth Culture.

I teach and programme peer review and artist talks. Co-programmer of the Arts Council England supported Her Art-Story Talks. Speakers include Dr Althea Greenan with Barby Asante, Melanie Jackson with Erika Tan, Cathy Lomax with Eleanor Moreton, Laura Lancaster with Laura Moreton-Griffiths, Cathy Lomax with Cathie Pilkington RA, Irini Papadimitriou with Nye Thompson, Annabel Dover with Nadia Hebson, and Mel Brimfield with Sally O’Reilly. Other talks include Elsa and the Urinal by Dr Glyn Thompson; Feminism, the Near Future and Non-Linear Time with Nina Power and Victoria Browne, and In Conversation with Marvin Gaye Chetwydn for ArtVerve magazine.

Recently graduated from the Royal College of Art with an MA in Contemporary Art Practice, Critical Practice in 2021. Other studies include: The Royal Drawing School Drawing Intensive Scholarship Programme (2019); Turps Correspondence Course (2016-2019); Camberwell College of Art BA Painting (2005-2008).

Education

2019-21 Royal College of Art, MA Contemporary Art / Practice Critical Practice
2019 The Royal Drawing School, Drawing Intensive Scholarship Programme
2016-19 Turps Painters Correspondence Course (Painting)
2005-08 Camberwell College of Art, University of the Arts, BA (Hons) Painting
1993 ARTEC, Interactive Multimedia
1986 St Martins School of Art, Foundation

Awards & Funding

2021 Future’s Venture support for speculative fiction writing
2020 Arts Council England Emergency Response Fund Award
2017 Arts Council England Award Grants for the Arts Award
2015 Southwark Arts Forum Visual Arts Award shortlisted for Finders Keepers, SLWArtists Residency
Southwark Arts Forum Community Arts Award nomination for Finders Keepers, SLWArtists Residency
The Big Draw Award Runner Up for Hidden Narratives Dangerous Erasions, SLWArtists
2013 Southwark Arts Forum Visual Arts Award for The Dinner Party, SLWArtists

Residencies

2021 Volunteer at Lawson Park, Grizedale Arts. Coniston.
2021 Not a Sphere at DOOResidency, Zaandam, The Netherlands (group recipient).
2020 PeerSocial hosted by Raven Row, London (group recipient).
2018-19 Artquest PeerSocial at Cubitt, London (group recipient).
2017-21 Resident Artist at the Museum of Youth Culture, London.
2017 London Creative Network programme at SPACE, London.
2016 Residency at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre, London.
2014 Finders Keepers, SLWArtists Residency at Conway Hall, London.

Talks

2021 RCA The Urgency of The Arts Assemblies: I Need To Talk To You Urgently with Hito Steyerl, Tianzhuo Chen, Peaches, Larry Achiampong.
For SLWArtists: Matt Roberts Arts; Gita Joshi, The Curators Salon; and DACS.
2020 Co-producer Her Art-Story talks with Matt Roberts, featuring: Cathy Lomax & Cathie Pilkington at Bow Arts; Nye Thompson & Irini Papadimitriou; Nadia Hebson & Annabel Dover; Mel Brimfield & Sally O’Reilly, supported by Arts Council England.
2019 Co-producer Her Art-Story talks with Matt Roberts, featuring:
Althea Greenan & Barby Asante at The Lightbox, Woking.
Melanie Jackson & Erika Tan at Stanley Picker Gallery, Kingston University.
Cathy Lomax & Eleanor Moreton at Block 336, Brixton.
Laura Moreton-Griffiths & Laura Lancaster at South Hill Park, Bracknell, supported by Arts Council England.
Elsa and the Urinal by Dr Glyn Thompson for SLWArtists.
2017 Feminism, Non Linear Time and the Near Future with Nina Power and Victoria Browne, supported by Arts Council England

Selected

2021 Apple Blossom Sky, published on New Critique, a journal of critical and creative writing
2020 PeerSocial hosted by Raven Row, London
2018 Constructors Gallery, hoardings at Blackfriars Bridge Southern Side, London
Craft+Conflict, Rural Touring Scheme, Cumbria, Co Durham & Northumberland
Altered States, The London Group, The Crypt, St John’s, Waterloo, London
2017 London Creative Network SPACE / LCN Showcase 2nd Edition at SPACE, London
Rye Winter Open, Rye Creative Centre, Rye, Sussex
Pay And Display, Centrespace Gallery, Bristol
2016 Bankley Open, Bankley Studios and Gallery, Manchester
2013 Inspired London, Fold Gallery, London
2010 CG @ Deptford X, Core Gallery, London
Artworks Open 2010, Barbican Arts Group Trust, London
Jerwood Drawing Prize 2010, London

Exhibitions

2022 The comrades they were brave – We saluted you! GRS44, Bloomsbury, London
2021 Waiting Room. tactileBosch, Cardiff
RCA 2021 at Cromwell Place, London
RCA 2021 Online
Apple Blossom Sky, published by New Critique
Forever Everything, online exhibition in collaboration with Silicon Valet and Off Site Project
Montez Press Radio, NY
2020 DATA | GIFT live reading on this is tomorrow, 302_Redirect (16 May)
DATA | GIFT on Montez Press Radio, NY, 302_Redirect (27 April)
Low_Res_Camera_Roll, Instagram Takeover, 302_Redirect
Equinox, St Marylebone Parish Church, London with SLWArtists
RCA WIP Show, Battersea Campus, London
2019 Cash is King, Mad In Margate, Artgame, Margate for the Museum of Youth Culture
Return of Come Kiss a Stranger, Art Licks, Peckham, London
Pillow Talk: conversations with women at the Austrian Cultural Forum, a collaboration with SLWArtists and the Women’s Art Library, part of Nothing Less! 100 Years of Women’s Suffrage
Work Shop, Bell House, Dulwich Festival, London
Spike Island Open Studios (Studio 105), Bristol
Still Life, Asylum Chapel, London
Gallery Below, St Mary-le-Bow Church Cheapside, London
2018 Art Car Boot Fair, Granary Square King’s Cross and Lambeth, London
Genesis Light Magic, St John’s Bethnal Green, London
Strong and Stable, Asylum Chapel, London
Why Don’t You?… HQ, Art Licks Weekend, Peckham, London
Dreaming Awake at Safe House 1, Dulwich Festival, Peckham, London
Pillow Talk at Uniqlo Tate Lates February, Tate Modern, London
2017 The Lucky Seven Rides Again, Why Don’t You…HQ, Art Licks Weekend, London
Truth Lies Within, Phytology, The Bethnal Green Nature Reserve, London
Truth Lies Within, The Subculture Archives, London
The Arches Studios Dulwich Open House, Peckham, London
Spike Island Open Studios, Bristol
Blink, Market Peckham, SLWArtists, London
2016 Olympic Dreams, Market, Peckham, London
Pillow Talk at BBC 100 Women, Broadcasting House, London
Hidden Narratives Dangerous Erasions, Women Centre Stage, Hampstead Theatre, London, SLWArtists
Pillow Talk, TEDx UCLWomen, London, SLWArtists
Return of the Lucky Seven, Art Licks Weekend, Peckham, London
Annual Open #32, CGP London
Sluice_ Space and Space Time Agency, The Averard Hotel, London
Pillow Talk, curated by the Women’s Art Library, Brixton East, London, SLWArtists
2015 Lucky Seven, Why Don’t You…? Art Licks Weekend, Peckham, London
Annual Open #31, CGP London
One Nation Under a Groove live drawing event, Festival of Love, Southbank Centre, London
Eye music, Dulwich Festival, The Arches Courtyard Space, Peckham, London
Say what! Gambardella Art, London
Burlesque & Allegory, Asylum, London
Urban, Brixton East, London, SLWArtists
South London Art Map Last Fridays, The Arches Studios, Peckham, London
2014 Finders Keepers Losers Weepers, Conway Hall, London
Hidden Narratives Dangerous Erasions, The Albany Theatre, Deptford X, London
Friends Open, Dulwich Picture Gallery, London
The Machine of Visual Delights, Pentapaper at the Alternative Village Fete with Homeliveart, National Theatre, London
Summer Open, The Arches Studios, Peckham, London
South London Art Map Last Fridays, The Arches Studios, Peckham, London
That’s Not What, Hide Gallery Leathermarket, Leathermarket, London
2013 A Public Airing, Speakers Corner, Deptford to Parliament Square, The WHYfront, London
It’s In The Bag, Hide Gallery Leathermarket, SLWArtists as Parliament Week Partner, London
A Public Airing, Peckham to Canary Wharf, The WHYfront, London
The Fine Art of Ceramics, Hide Gallery Leathermarket, Leathermarket, London
Artlicks Weekend, Hide Gallery Leathermarket, Leathermarket, London
Swimming Against The Tide, Hide Gallery Leathermarket, Leathermarket, London
From The Archive, Bermondsey Street Festival, London
Piece Work, Espacio Gallery, Shoreditch, London
Zeitgeist Summer Exhibition, ASC Studios, Deptford, London
Summer Open, The Arches Studios, Peckham, London
Brixton Art Trail, Brixton Village, London
Curious Exchange, West Norwood Cemetery, London
2012 The Dinner Party, SLWArtists at 4749 Tanner St, London
Postcard Exhibition, WoW Festival, SLWArtists, The Royal Festival Hall, London
Inspired London, Fold Gallery, London
Between Lines, The Arches Courtyard Space, Peckham, London
International Postcard Show, Surface Gallery, Nottingham
snap! SLWArtists at Bankside Gallery, London
South London Art Map Last Fridays, The Arches Studios, Peckham, London
Annual Open #28, CGP London
Private Dreams, Private Myths, SLWArtists at Dulwich Library, London
2011 RyanRooneySpace, Dulwich Open House, London
Glimpsed, House Gallery, SLWArtists, London
From Blake to Space, House Gallery, London
South London Art Map Last Fridays, The Arches Studios, Peckham, London
Property crime: Marxist postcard, Toutes Directions, Peckham, London
Open Exhibition, CGP London, London

Publications

2021 Mercurial Mist. Editors: Effy Harle, Georgina Watson and Anita Marante
2020 Fiends Issue 5 Democracy
As Seen By Her podcast about the implications of COVID-19 on the arts and its future, Talking with journalist Millen Brown-Ewens and Sarah Philp, Director of Programme and policies at Art Fund
2019 Kickstarter: 3 months study at the Royal Drawing School
Artists Beyond LCN with Kathrin Böhm, LCN Story: Peer Social
2018 Conversation with Laura Lancaster at South Hill Park for Her Art-Story Talks
Strong and Stable, SLWArtists by Alana Fialkoff for Dulwich on View
PEER FORUM at Cubitt
Kitmapper Instagram feature 12 March 2018
2017 The end is where we start from: history painting the future, Essay by Anna McNay, Assistant Editor, Art Quarterly
Axisweb #WEEKLY ROUND UP #HIGHLIGHTS
Feature by London Creative Network at SPACE
Like The Myth of Pandora – Essay by Anna McNay Art writer and Assistant Editor, Art Quarterly, Art-Corpus
Nympenburg Trials, Lighthouse Journal, Gatehouse Press
Matriarchs, Monsters and Feral Children, Wolf Crossing, The Learned Pig Spring/Summer
Olympic Dreams, Art Reveal Magazine p76-81
2016 Marvin Gaye Chetwydn in conversation, ArtVerve Magazine, Issue 6, SLWArtists Publishing
Olympic Dreams Zine
Olympic Dreams
Axisweb Homepage feature
Women on The Frontline, ArtVerve Magazine, Issue 5, SLWArtists Publishing
In photos: Pillow Talk at Brixton East, Mike Urban, BrixtonBuzz
Liberties Review, ArtVerve Magazine, Issue 4, SLWArtists Publishing
SLWA Art School, ArtVerve, Issue 3, SLWArtists Publishing
Eye music – a rare exhibition, Dulwich OnView
The 365 Artists 365 Days Project, Online publication, Wisconsin
Finders Keepers Losers Weepers, Archaelogy of mind, SLWArtists Publishing
The Dinner Party, SLWArtists Publishing
A PUBLIC AIRING, Feminist & Women’s Studies Association
2013 The Personal is Political, UK Parliament
Piecework, Catalogue by Jackie Brown, Pia Goddard & Pat Kaey, SLWArtists Publishing
Artist Quarterly Autumn 2013, Tour London Art Trail 4 Peckham p59
Artlyst Featured Artist 26/07/13
200 Magazine, Issue 6, Quarterly magazine, Available online, app & in print p144
Art of The Week #1, Twenty Something London, Online showcase
A Public Airing, The Feminist and Women’s Studies Association, FWSA Blog
Visual Creativity, 2nd edition, a showcase of painting & illustration
snap! SLWArtists catalogue, text by Dr Lara Perry, Althea Greenan & Sarah Sparkes
2011 Landscape = Landskip, Onestepfastforward, Art Architecture Design blog
Bankside Exhibition catalogue, SLWArtists Publishing
Women and Books, Exhibition catalogue, SLWArtists Publishing
Brighten Your Life, Dulwich OnView
Glimpsed by Kim Thornton, Dulwich OnView
2010 From Blake To Space, Review by Cat Weiner, The Londonist
Jerwood Drawing Prize 2010 Exhibition Review by Amelia Gregory, Amelia’s Magazine
Becoming Part of Something, Project blogs by Rosalind Davis, Artists Talking
Pastoral Parody by Anna Maria Di Brina, Dulwich OnView
2008 The Affordable Art Fair, Recent Graduates section of catalogue
Things Magazine, Online publication, Royal College of Art