I am an artist and academic based in the South Pennines. My work explores the disruption of artistic and scientific labour, drawing on amateur science experiments, hobbyist engineering projects and futile human endeavour, usually in the form of excursions and sculpture-demonstrations. I am Co-Director of ‘para-lab’, alongside Andrew Wilson, an organisation experimenting with the ‘how’ of collaboration between artists and scientists, running in parallel to academic institutions. In 2015, I embarked on an art and science research expedition to Svalbard in the High Arctic and in 2017 completed a BSc (Hons) in Natural Sciences with the Open University, specialising in astronomy and planetary science. I have been involved with a number of experimental cross-disciplinary research projects within higher education, having particular interests in interdisciplinarity, collaboration and learning in the wild. I have recently been appointed Lecturer in Fine Art at Leeds Beckett University and am soon to begin a practice-based PhD where I will use fieldwork, amateur labour and intimate performance to create new models for science outreach.
Education
BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences, Open University, 2009 – 2017
Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice, Manchester Metropolitan University, 2014 – 2016
MA Fine Art, Manchester Metropolitan University, 2011 – 2013
BA(Hons) Fine Art, Leeds University, 2005 – 2009
Foundation Diploma Art & Design, Warwickshire College, 2004 – 2005
Residencies
2020
Call Centre, Allenheads Contemporary Arts, remote ‘lockdown’ residency
2019
Continuum, Allenheads Contemporary Arts, Northumberland
2018
Beyond: Open Door Residency, Allenheads Contemporary Arts, Northumberland
2015
The Arctic Circle, international territory of Svalbard
Bristol Experimental Expanded Film host Film Material, BEEF, Bristol
2013
I-Park Foundation, Connecticut, USA
Ahmed & Carpenter Carry the Can, Chinese Arts Centre, Manchester
Selected Exhibitions
2021
para-lab Report 2021, Rogue Project Space, Manchester
2019
If all you have is a hammer everything looks like a nail, Gallery DODO at Phoenix Brighton; curated by Jon Carritt and Dan Palmer
Rogue Women, Rogue Artists Studios, Manchester; curated by Jen Orpin, Magaret Carhill and Ann Bukantas
Sum Total of All the Actions, Rogue Artists Studios, Manchester: curated by Annie Carpenter, Anthony Hall and Hannah Leighton-Boyce
Continuum, Allenheads Contemporary Arts, Northumberland: curated by Alan Smith, Helen Ratcliffe and Rob La Frenais
2018
Performance: Kosmica: Ethereal Things (London Edition), Iklectik, London; curated by Nicola Triscott and Nahum
Manifesto, Rogue Artists Studios, Manchester
Performance: Kosmica: Ethereal Things, Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art, Sunderland; curated by Nicola Triscott and Nahum
Beyond, Allenheads Contemporary Arts, Northumberland; curated by Alan Smith and Helen Ratcliffe
2017
Bear and Ragged Staff, Meter Room, Coventry Biennial of Contemporary Art; curated by Ryan Hughes
ASMbly, Superposition Leeds; Curated by Lawrence Molley & Cat Scott
Public Disengagement (with Makers Dozen), Marketplace Studios, Stockport
2016
Miniature World, Castlefield Gallery, Manchester; curated by Matthew Pendergast
New Work at The Manchester Contemporary, Manchester; curated by Noel Clueit & Monty
Rogue at Waterside, Waterside Art Centre, Manchester
Progress, Rogue Artists’ Studios, Manchester, curated by Lucy Harvey
Makers Dozen: In-Source, Made North, Sheffield
Aperture: Greater Manchester Media Art Exhibition, Media City, Salford (nominated to represent Manchester by Castlefield Gallery)
2015
Rogue Open Studios, Rogue Artists’ Studios, Manchester
Film Material at BEEF, Bristol Experimental & Expanded Film, Bristol
Potential in the Ordinary, ROCKELMANN& Gallery, Berlin; curated by Leen Horsford
2014
Film Material Soup: Film and Video from Manchester, Videofag, Toronto
Shed Show ,Toast, Manchester; curated by Taneesha Ahmed
Film Material Soup and LUX13, Castlefield Gallery, Manchester and Laban Centre, London
Rogue Open Studios, Rogue Artists’ Studios, Manchester
Resolution, Malgras|Naudet, Manchester
2013
Benzie Building Opening, Manchester School of Art, Manchester
Our Times, MEXICO, Leeds; curated by Amalie Jakobsen and Oskar Jönsson
Rogue Open Studios, Rogue Artists’ Studios, Manchester
MA Show, Manchester School of Art, Manchester
Open Studios, I-Park Artist Retreat, Connecticut, USA
Schools of Art Vol. III ,Oktogon Gallery, Dresden, Germany; curated by Susanne Greinke
Ways to Escape, 2022, Manchester; curated by Saoirse Higgins and Fabrizio Cocchiarella
Bring Your Own Beamer, Lionel Dobie Project, Manchester
VS, Rogue Project Space, Manchester
2012
Oil, Grease and Rubber, Piccadilly Place, Manchester
Fayre, Rogue Project Space, Manchester; curated by Ahmed & Carpenter
Elevation to a Crash Pad, The Monks Gallery, Lincoln, curated by Tom Cretney and Nick Simpson
The Art Book Book Shop Residency, Oxfam Bookshop, Leamington Spa
Interim I & II, Neo:Artists, Bolton and Bankley Studios Gallery, Manchester
Prospectus, Triangle Space, Chelsea School of Art, London.
Distilled Life Part 1, Bakerie, Manchester, curated by Mike Chavez-Dawson
SWITCH/OVER, Wimbledon Space, London, curated by Taneesha Ahmed & Holly Black
nine-to-five-to-nine, Art in Unusual Spaces, Leeds; curated by Yvonne Carmichael
Exhibition, Kraak, Manchester.
2011
Office Christmas Party, Rogue Artists’ Studios, Manchester; curated by Ahmed & Carpenter
Community – Consume & Collaborate, Cord, Manchester; curated by Lydia Meiying, Cameron Steward & Sarah Reid
Rogue Open Studios, Rogue Artists’ Studios, Manchester
Multiple Occupancy, Hatch Space, Deptford, London; curated by Jenny Steele & Harriet Hill
Office Party, Rogue Artists’ Studios, Manchester; curated by Ahmed & Carpenter
Production of Curation, Rogue Project Space, Manchester; curated by Taneesha Ahmed
Igloos, Hive Gallery, Barnsley
2010
Customer Circus, The Triangle Shopping Centre, Manchester; curated by Taneesha Ahmed
A Room of Words, South Square Gallery, Thornton, Bradford; curated by Deborah Britton
The Art Book Book Shop, Oxfam Books & Music, Leamington Spa, curated by Annie Carpenter
2009
LDS 09, Leeds University, Leeds; curated by Francesco Ventrella
White, Hope House Gallery, Leeds
Dark Day 09, Leeds City Art Gallery, Leeds; curated by Susanna Davies-Crooke
2008
From Book to Book, Leeds City Art Gallery, Leeds; curated by Chris Taylor and John McDowal
Research
Book Chapter: Crisp, F., Triscott N., 2018.. The Live Creature and Ethereal Things: Physics in Culture, The Arts CatalystConference Paper: Carpenter, A., Ahmed, T., 2015. Observing: the Work of Amateurs, Association of Art Historians Annual Conference, University of East Anglia, UK, 10/4/15.
Conference Poster: Carpenter, A., Kelly, R., Illingworth, S., Hall, A., 2018. Testing The Field: Transdisciplinary Learning in an Unfamiliar Environment, HEA STEM Conference, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, 31/1/2018.
Conference PostIllingworth, S., Verran, J., Griffiths, D., Carpenter, A., 2017. Interdisciplinary Learning Through the Teaching of Science and Art, European Geosciences Union General Assemblyc
Media: Carpenter, A., Illingworth, S., Lloyd, T., Hall, A., Kelly, R., 2017. Testing the Field Film.
Awards:
2022
DYCP Arts Council England grant award
2016.
Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Research Grant, MMU
Learning and Teaching Innovation Fund, MMU
2015
Arts Council England research and development grant award for Arctic Circle expedition
2013.
MA Stars 2013, a-n
Arts Council England project grant exhibition programme Free Failing at Rogue Project Space
Presentations & Workshops
2021
Talk: Boredom, para-lab short talks, online
2020
Artist talk and workshop: Creative Accelerator Blackburn, online
2018
Workshop: Intimate Physics Encounters, The Arts Catalyst, London
2017
Talk and demo: Stirling Engines, Harris Museum, Preston
2016
Artist talk: Light and Space with Making in Transit, The Cube, London
Artist talk: Art & Science masters module, Manchester Metropolitan University
Artist talk: Professional Practice MA module, Manchester Metropolitan University
Artist talk & panel discussion: Miniature World Symposium, Castlefield Gallery, Manchester
Artist talk: Navigating Svalbard as part of ‘Epic Journeys’, Redeye Photography Network, International Anthony Burgess Foundation, Manchester
Artist talk: Geographies of Experimentation, BA Human Geography, Manchester University
Performances:
2018
‘Central Engine Maintenance Performance’, Kosmica: Ethereal Things (London Edition), Iklectik, London
‘Central Engine Maintenance Performance’, Kosmica: Ethereal Things, Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art, Sunderland
2016
‘Central Engine Maintenance Performance’, Miniature World, Castlefield Gallery, Manchester
‘Stirling Engine Maintenance Performance’, Potential in the Ordinary, ROCKELMANN& Gallery, Berlin
2014
‘Stirling Engine Maintenance Performance’, Shed Show, Toast, Manchester
‘Stirling Engine Maintenance Performance’, Resolve, Malgras | Naudet, Manchester