Jem Mellor is a Midlands based artist with an interdisciplinary practice spanning sculpture, photography, film and writing.
Interested in the world building ability of materials and their active agency within art & design methodologies, Jem’s work develops artistic and pedagogical practices which seek to give space to consider and explore a material’s way of being in the world and the co-productive relationships between humanity and matter. Using performative and traditional research models, Jem relationally develops material knowledges, evolving a more collaborative relationship with the materials of her own shared practice.
Exhibitions/ Awards
Aug 2023: Wall Of Remembrance. Compassionate Communities UK & NNNS
Aug 2022: BIO ARTS Bursary Babs recipient
July 2022 WOVEN Exhibition. Bessant Gallery, Wolverhampton
June 2022 ON SITE. AA2A & Wolverhampton SofA (Joint)
Oct 2021 ‘What Is The Matter?’. South Street, Birmingham (Solo)
Sep 2021 Endowment Fund for the Arts BICA (Award)
2021 Post Distance. On-line Exhibition. Opens 22/9/21 (Joint)
2021 May-September ‘If It’s Not A Rug’. The Year That Wasn’t: On-line Catalyst Exhibition (Joint)
Pre 2020
The One and the Many; Holy Biscuit, Newcastle and Centrala, Birmingham
Live Your Dreams; Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham
The Conversion of Saul; Sputnik Open Submission Joint Exhibition; Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire
City Scapes; Custard Factory, Birmingham and New Generation Arts Festival, Rotunda, Birmingham
Emily Dickinson series; AOP, London
Residencies/ Projects/ Speaking Engagements/ Teaching
2024: Resident Artist with Northfield Arts Forum for KNAF @ Hawkesley CC (February)
2024: Upcoming SAY SOMETHING. Community Voice Project, West Heath Birmingham (February-March)
2023: Weaving Through Loss and Life; Compassionate Communities UK (Sep-Nov)
2023: INTERLACED Community Projects (February-March)
2023: Allens Cross Community Gardens Artist in Residence
2022: SPECTRA Abundance Garden Birmingham City Hospital (August)
2022: Ikon Slow Boat Resident (May)
2021- 2022: AA2A Residency Programme Wolverhampton School of Art
2021- Present: VT Lecturer; Nexus ICA, Coventry.
2021: Material Encounters Research Cluster, UNCERTAIN KNOWLEDGE(S): SUMMER COLLOQUIUM, research presentation.
2020-21 Tate Liverpool & BICA On-line lecture series committee member, training and planning mentor scheme
2017-2019 Arts Internship Mentor; Sputnik Arts Charity (https://sptnk.co.uk)
2012-2021 Subject specialist VT; Archbishop Ilsley 6th Form College
2006-2010 Resident Artist; Holy Trinity Media Arts College
publications and articles
2022: Mediators and The Vitality of Matter in Drawing Practices
Drawing Research Theory Practice, October 2022, Intellect DOI: 10.1386/drtp_00090_1
2021: What Is The Matter? A practical guide to developing co-productive material practice within arts disciplines.
Education
MA Art & Design Interdisciplinary Practice, BICA Birmingham School of Art Distinction 2019-2021
BA Visual Communication Photography, University of Central England First Class Hons 2004
memberships
Material Encounters Research Cluster
Sputnik Faith & Arts Network
AA2A