Contact me at: info@larissashaw.studio
Bio?:
Bio in progress: A few weeks ago (Feb 2024), I received an email to renew this website. I hesitated, for I have not made work in nearly two years. Partly, this is due to my over-commitment to my freelance art handling work and the occassional visiting lecturering contract whilst working towards my PGCertHE (due to submit mid-April), but mostly the first. I have, however, continued to write without sharing what I’ve been working on.
After working on my family history last year, I learned I am a direct descendant of the last person burned at the stake in the UK. It happened in Lichfield in 1612, and was in fact a man named Edward Wightman, who was burned for heresy... (currently editing)...
Old bio: I am interested in ungoverned libraries of knowledge and knowledge [re]production. The work I make aims to playfully document the commons between people and communities as places of sanctuaries, where trust and cooperation is prioritised over competition. I orientate my practice in its own self-governed and self-described ‘non-artist’ prescription, working mostly collaboratively to dilute the solitary and hypervisible nature of being a ‘solo’ artist.
I enjoy using many process to illustrate research, navigating personal, trans-generational and socio-historical narratives across whatever materials interest me at that time, tending into learning something new. My work has been presented as installations, webs of [re]imagined engagements surrounding language and knowledge [re]production – which is occasionally [un]written, [un]performed and made [in]visible through relationships and learning using text and textiles, writing and community.
I prefer collaborating with other artists over being in competition for opportunities (that will probably gravitate towards mediocrity, if not a bit exploitative, at best). I currently work with School of the Damned, Black Hole Club (Vivid Projects, Birmingham), am a co-founder of Matters of Interest (hosted by Big Shop Friday, Milton Keynes), and Found The Plot (Smethwick allotment project with Sofia Niazi, Sahjan Kooner, Roo Kaur Dhissou and Fred Hubble).
✨ 𝕲𝖔𝖑𝖉𝖋𝖎𝖘𝖍 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖈𝖆𝖙𝖊𝖗𝖕𝖎𝖑𝖑𝖆𝖗𝖘 𝖗𝖚𝖑𝖊 𝖊𝖛𝖊𝖗𝖞𝖙𝖍𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖆𝖗𝖔𝖚𝖓𝖉 𝖒𝖊 ✨
Privileges:
I am a white, cis-gendered female. I accept she/her and they/them pronouns.
I grew up in a working class household in the UK with two parents, both able to work.
I went to a state school and did not claim free school meals. I am the first in my family to go to university.
I have chronic health conditions that can occassionally effect my ability to work but I do not consider myself disabled. I am able-bodied.
I feel within the art world, those in comfortable positions, such as me, have the ability to make decisions to control their own visibility and amplify more important voices from under-represented parts of society.
I feel it is important for all artists to include on their website whether wealth, class, white privilege or being able bodied has aided any freedom to becoming an artist. Should you be looking at this part of my website because I have applied for an artist opportunity, I hope in your selection panel and the artists short-listed are inclusive and that you are in solidarity with this section of my website.
→ CV:
All activity ( exhibitions // fellowships // residencies )
2023
☼ Co-director of Free House, an artist studios in Birmingham, UK. Other co-directors and studio holders are Kristina Hall, Jaz Morrison, Dinosaur Kilby, Emily Scarrott, Kevin Hunt, Sophie Mackfall and Fred Hubble. May 2023 - current
☼ Zine workshops with MA Contemporary Arts China at Birmingham City University, Feb 2023.
☼ Zine workshops with Ikon Youth Programme (IKON Gallery) and The New Art Gallery Walsall. April - August 2023
2022
☼ School of the Damned 2022, more info here.
☼ Artist in Schools, Co-Map project - Birmingham City University with Erasmus. Schools in UK, Hungary, Germany, Spain and Portugal. 04/22 - 07/22.
☼ British Art Show 9_ Artist in Schools, with Wolverhampton Art Gallery and University of Wolverhampton_ artists also include Thomas Eke and Joanna Fursman. 09/21 - 03/22
☼ British Art Show 9_ School of the Underkraft (Mark Essen), Artist Activity Sheets, with Sahjan Kooner, Thomas Eke, Joanna Fursman & Sophie Huckfield. 12/21 - 04/22. More info here.
2021
☼ Welcome to New Earth (ARC _ Artist Rehab Club, with Roo Kaur Dhissou). 6/12/21 at Vivid Projects with Black Hole Club. 6/12/21 + More info here.
☼ Show up_ exhibition with Sofia Niazi, Sahjan Kooner, Roo Kaur Dhissou & Fred Hubble at Oldbury Allotment. 18/09/21.
☼ Art Workers Between Self Organising and Collectivity -- Pooleyville article, written with Thomas Eke, Lucie MacGregor and Emily Roderick as Matters of Interest. Published 14/07. Readable here.
☼ Every Woman Biennial London, The Copeland Gallery London. Opening 1/07/21. More info here.
☼ DOOM (Turn Away from the Sun). Vivid Projects, Birmingham UK, 06/2021. More info here.
☼ IKON for Artists: Art Sale. Birmingham UK. 17/05 - 1/06. More info here.
☼ Ping Pong: IKON Youth Programme (IYP) workshops with Black Hole Club, publication. 02-06/21. More info here.
☼ Stryx International at Lab 155, Bologna, Italy. 03/21 - 04/21 (international residency)
☼ Black Hole Club Member 2021/2022, Vivid Projects, March 2021 - Current. More info available here.
☼ PASTE UP, Billboard poster outside Cheap Cheap Gallery, Cheapside Birmingham. 03/21. More info here.
☼ a-n 40th anniversary newsletter, writing commission, published 14/01/21. Readable here. (collaborative publication with Black Hole Club)
2020
☼ It Gets Lighter From Here, Black Hole Club collaborative commission from Vivid Projects. Viewable here. 21/12/20 (collaborative video work) ☼ Archive, Exchange, and Process in Pandemic, collaborative text with Leanne O’Connor, published by Critical Art Review 27/10/20. Readable here. (collaborative publication)
☼ Unavoidable, Online MA Show. 01/09/20 - 01/09/21. Viewable here.
☼ Peep at Stryx, home residency online with Stryx Gallery, Birmingham. Nov 2020. More info here.
☼ Artist in Schools with IKON Gallery, Brindley Place Birmingham, and Bromley Pensnett Primary School, Dudley. (Programme & exhibition at IKON) Postponed due to Covid-19 until 06/21.
☼ Mayday reader, collaborative publication with Black Hole Club, May 2020. Readable here. (collaborative publication)
☼ Black Hole Club Member 2020, Vivid Projects, March 2020 - March 2021 More info available here.
2019
☼ Art Licks Weekend 2019 London, DKUK, The Old Police Station Deptford, 4Cose & 1C Enterprise. 20th Oct. 201. (group exhibition with Grand Union group GU WOMXN). More info available here.
☼ Coventry Biennial 2019, The Row. 4/10/19 - 28/01/20. More info available here. (biennial exhibition)
☼ PLAY, Stryx, Birmingham 6/09 - 4/10/2019. More info available here. (group exhibition)
☼ Masters of Something. 09/2019 - current. (Programme of artist group of 15 participants, working towards alternative education) More info available here.
☼ Black Hole Club 2019 with Vivid Projects_ 02/2019 - 01/2020 (fellowship)
☼ Random String 2018 with Ludic Rooms_ 11/2018 - 04/2019. More info available here. (fellowship)
☼ Forward: New Art from Birmingham, IKON Birmingham, 26 -31/03/19 More info available here. (group exhibition)
☼ Forward: New Art from Birmingham, Medicine Bakery & Gallery (IKON) Birmingham 23/01 - 24/03/19 (group exhibition)
2018
☼ WIP Stryx, Minverva Works Birmingham. 2 - 10/11/18. More info available here. (Group exhibition)
☼ New Art West Midlands 2018, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery 13/02 - 13/05. More info here. (group exhibition)
☼ National Trust/New Art West Midlands residency_ 02/2018 - 02/2019 More info here. (Residency)
☼ Grand Union residency_08/2017 - 08/2018 More info here.
2017
☼ IKON prize_ 07/17
Publications // writing
2021
☼ ☼ Art Workers Between Self Organising and Collectivity -- Pooleyville article, written with Thomas Eke, Lucie MacGregor and Emily Roderick as Matters of Interest. Published 14/07. Readable here.
☼ ☼ a-n 40th anniversary newsletter, writing commission, published 14/01/21. More info here.
2020
☼ ☼ Archive Exchange, and Process in Pandemic, collaborative text with Leanne O’Connor, published by Radical Art Review 27/10/20. Readable here.
☼ ☼ Mayday reader, collaborative publication with Black Hole Club, 01/05/2020. Readable here.
☼ ☼ Self published manifesto, January 2020. Available to read here.
2019
☼ ☼ Art Licks Weekend 2019 London, DKUK, The Old Police Station Deptford, 4Cose & 1C Enterprise. 20th Oct. 2019 (publication exhibition with Grand Union group GU WOMXN) More info available here. ☼ ☼ Self published artist manual 'Ideas for Better Spaces' 04/2019. Available to read here. ☼ ☼ IKON Blog, on Haroon Mirza. Critical Sound. Published 01/19. Available to read here.
2017
☼ ☼ Esthesis.org, “Post-Matter” – Wearable Art That Blurs The Boundaries Between Bodies And Environment. Published 11/2017, available to read here.
2016
☼ ☼ Birmingham's Big Art Project publication, Millennium Point, Birmingham, 08/2016.
Press / news (hyperlinks)
2021
→ Vivid Projects, Black Hole Club
2020
→ Castlefield Gallery, Manchester
→ Radical Art Review
→ Birmingham Institute of Creative Arts (BCU)
2019
→ ArtLicks, London
→ IKON Gallery, Birmingham
→ ArtRabbit (as Black Hole Club, Vivid Projects)
→ ArtRabbit (Stryx, Birmingham)
→ a-n, London
→ Stryx, Birmingham
→ Contemporary Lynx
2018
→ CVAN, Contemporary Visual Artist Network
→ I Choose Birmingham
→ New Art West Midlands
→ What’s on Birmingham
→ Artefact, Birmingham
2017
→ Esthesis.org
→ D-Luxe Magazine
Education
2021
☼ PGCHE (PT)_ Falmouth University, UK
2018 - 2020
☼ MA Arts and Education Practices (PT)_ Birmingham School of Art, UK
☼ Public Art and Pedagogy_ Art of the MooC, Duke University (North Carolina, US)
☼ PGCE Post Compulsory Education_ Birmingham City University, UK
2014 - 2017
☼ BA (Hons) Art & Design_ Birmingham School of Art, UK
2013
☼ FDA Art & Design _ Bournville School of Art, UK
(Self) Employment
2017 - current
☼ Studio Assistant Tutor & Visiting Lecturer, Birmingham City University, UK
2015 - current
☼ Freelance Gallery Technician and Art Handler at Saatchi Gallery (London), New Art Exchange (Nottingham), Nottingham Castle, IKON (Birmingham), Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, Compton Verney (Leamington Spa), The New Art Gallery Walsall, Herbert Gallery (Coventry), MEAD (Warwick) & Wolverhampton Art Gallery.