about — Joanne Newman

Bio:

Joanne Newman is a multidisciplinary artist, making work individually and collectively; creating sculptural installations, publications and one-off events. She received an AHRC Professional Preparation Masters Award to complete her MA in Fine Art, graduating with distinction and a commendation for her final exhibition. Using alternative networks, many of the projects she has been involved with have been collaborative and self-organised; displacing the normative and skirting the edges. She has also exhibited with Queer Art[ists] Now, CUNTtemporary, Art Licks Weekend London & at SomoS in Berlin. Joanne lives and works in the UK.

Statement

Embracing the flamboyant and the uncertain, my work incorporates softness and sensuality as fluid gestures of the feminine and the queer. Ambiguously hued colours and folds seep through temporary assemblages, sculptures, text and textile work. Amongst other things, I am inspired by fashion magazines, feminist sci-fi, baroque sculptures, universal ornament, queer culture, modes of display and sensual memory. Often a shimmering thing precariously placed or temporarily arranged, motifs drape between works, flirting with edges and excess.

Colour is a crucial medium; queerly tinted it is used as both signifier and substance to generate atmosphere; with the muddled nomenclature of colour mingling with ambiguous personal identity and presentation. Words are used as material too, with texts and titles referring back to research sources drawn from archives and fiction. Throughout the work, cultural references combine with personal desires, repugnances and autobiographical motifs. A side-eye of humour peeks from underneath a quilt, through the fringing, or from behind the drapery, exploring sexuality, materiality, cosiness and discomfort.

Education

MA Fine Art: European Art Practice, Kingston University, 2014

BA (hons) Fine Art: Painting, Norwich School of Art & Design, 2005

Selected Exhibitions, Residencies & Projects

2021

FLAGS FOR QUEERTOPIAS - group show, The Margate School, Margate Pride Art Trail

The Art of Being Queer - group VR Exhibition, Pineapple Black

2020

Envelope Show - collaborative postal project, UK

Futureless - group show, SomoS, Berlin

Queer Art(ists) Now - group show, Archive Gallery, London, part of And What? Queer. Arts. Festival. 2020

2019

The Ollie & Lesa Show - collaborative exhibition, Artlicks Weekend, London

To Whom the Flesh my Flesh Still Connects Me - group exhibition & publication, by InLand Project, The Poetry Cafe, London

Assassins Reading Club - collaborative online publication, exhibition & event, 4COSE,

London Captain Stormfield - collaborative exhibition, 4COSE, London

2018

Queer Art(ists) Now 2018 - invited artist and selection panel member for group show, Archive Gallery, London, part of And What? Queer. Arts. Festival. 2018

Archiving the Feminist Experience - The Feminist Library Summer Exhibition, London

Future Heroine - group exhibition, RAW Labs, London Temple - RAW Friday artist takeover, RAW Labs, London

Might be going to - research residency, Kingston School of Art Research Space, Croydon Art Store

2017

Queer Art(ists) Now - group show, Archive Gallery, London, part of And What? Queer. Arts. Festival. 2017

Claremorris Open Exhibition - Triangular Brush: The Legend of Siobhan Ni Eidhin, Claremorris, Ireland

In Residence - group show, Griffin Gallery, London

Deep Trash: Royal Trash - CUNTemporary live art & exhibition event, Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club, London

Graffiti Check - group show, Sassoon Gallery, Folkestone

2016

Lavender, Pink, Puce - project based residency, ColArt/Griffin Gallery, London

The Barbara Brush Calendar - Triangular Brush collaborative publication launch, 4COSE, Vyner Street, London

2015

Apparitions - group show, The Marble Cave of Gadime, Kosovo

The Darker Half - Triangular Brush collaborative residency & exhibitions, 126 Gallery, County Galway, Ireland

Take Me Home Projects Presents: Pride in London Show - group show, INTRANSIT Festival of Arts, Earl’s Court, London

Pink Sole, A Concert of Artworks - Triangular Brush collaborative residency, events & exhibitions, Labor Gallery, Budapest

2014

After Hours,,, - Triangular Brush Office Christmas Party exhibition event, Stratton and Reekie, Soho, London

PONY - MA group show, Stanley Picker Gallery, Kingston-Upon-Thames

3h#1: Do Your Best in Your Place - group show, Seoul, Korea

2013

Beige Buffett - solo show & performance, Project Space, Kingston University

Jungle: Black & Yellow - collaborative parasitic publication and bar, for Michael Jordan - MA Group Show, Stanley Picker Gallery, Kingston-Upon-Thames