Approved: 30.10.2014

Marjolaine Ryley

Artist, Lecturer / academic, Maker, Researcher, Writer

Approved: 30.10.2014

I am an artist, photographer and Senior Lecturer in Photography. I work with analogue and digital photography, eco-printing, moving image, creative writing and archives. I have exhibited my work both nationally and internationally, including exhibitions at Street Level Photoworks Gallery, Glasgow, Impressions Gallery, Bradford and The Palacio des Artes, Porto.

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News

     

    Artist Statement

    I am an artist, photographer and Senior Lecturer in Photography. I work with analogue and digital photography, eco-printing, moving image, creative writing and archives. I have exhibited my work both nationally and internationally, including exhibitions at Street Level Photoworks Gallery, Glasgow, Impressions Gallery, Bradford and The Palacio des Artes, Porto.

    My publications include ‘Villa Mona - A Proper Kind of House’ Trace Editions, 2006, ‘Field Study 7 Residence Astral’ PARC, 2009 and 'Growing Up in the New Age', Daylight NYC, 2013.

    In 2020 my work was  shown at Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art in a mid-career retrospective exhibition 'This is What I See'. Using photography, creative text and archival materials I explored a range of themes linking  autobiography  to wider political issues.

    I am currently undertaking a practice based PhD funded by Northern Bridge Doctoral Training Partnership (AHRC) Time, Image, Archive: Visualising gardening communities through auto-ethnographic photographic practice.

     

    Recent work and projects can be seen here:

    https://www.antennae.org.uk/ - See Mycologies Issue 58

    https://www.hestercombe.com/whats-on/rose-is-a-rose - Recent Exhibition

    https://vimeo.com/733154844 - Film from recent exhibition showing installation work

    https://www.sunderland.ac.uk/more/news/story/multiple-passions-of-university-photographer-blossom-in-new-green-exhibit--1889 - News article about current practice

    http://www.londonaltphoto.com/shop/resource - Work included in new Publication on sustainable photography

     

     

     

     

    CV & Education

    Education

    2017-current     PhD Candidate in Fine Art, Newcastle University (Year 6 Part-time, Northern                             Bridge Funded)

    2017-19            RHS Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of Horticulture, Royal Botanic                                   Gardens Edinburgh (On-line)

    1998-2000        MA Fine Art Photography, Royal College of Art, London (dissertation                                         commendation)

    1993-1996        BA (Hons) Photography (2.1) Surrey Institute of Art & Design, Farnham

    1992-1993        BTEC Dip. Foundation Studies (Art & Design), Guildhall University, London

     

    Solo Exhibitions - Forthcoming

    2023    ‘A Delicious Garden’, The Photographic Garden, East Street Arts, Leeds                                    (Forthcoming April 23)

                ‘A Tendril of Creeper: Gardens of Protest and Hope’. PhD exhibition, Hatton Gallery,               Newcastle & Campus gardens (forthcoming Nov 23)

     

    Solo Exhibitions

    2020     ‘This is What I See’ – (Marjolaine Ryley a mid career retrospective), Northern Gallery                  for Contemporary Art, Sunderland as part of NEPN ‘Observe, Experiment, Archive’                      programme.

    2013     ‘Growing up in the New Age’ as part of the Social Encountering Photography,                            Festival  at Sunderland Minster, Sunderland

    2012     ‘Growing up in the New Age’ Street Level Photoworks, Glasgow (as part of Glasgow                  International)

                 ‘Growing up in the New Age’ Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Wolverhampton

    2008     'Résidence Astral,' Impressions Gallery, Bradford

    2007     'Résidence Astral', Street Level Photoworks, Glasgow

                (Artists' Minigraph with newly commissioned essay by Val Williams)

    2006     'Residence Astral', Atrium Gallery, London College of Communication, London

                 'Villa Mona - A Proper Kind of House', Northern Gallery for Contemporary

                 Art, Sunderland

                'Avenue', York Quay Centre, Harbourfront Arts Centre, Toronto

     

    Selected Group Exhibitions

    2022     ‘A Rose is a Rose is a Rose’ Hestercombe Art Gallery, Somerset

    2020     ‘Multispecies Visionary Institute – Sabina Sallis’ contributor ‘Plants and Protest or                  How to Grow your Art and Eat it’, Berwick Gymnasium gallery

    2018     ‘Growing up in the New Age’ Collections Gallery, NGCA, Sunderland

    2015     ‘Art Lending Library’, City Library, Sunderland

    2014     ‘Eulogy’ Vane Gallery, Newcastle

                 ‘Moral Holiday’ Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art, Sunderland

    2011     ‘Civic’ international festival of Billboard Art, Vardy Gallery, Northern Gallery for                             contemporary Art and off site Billboards locations in the North East

                 ‘Civic’ international festival of Billboard Art, Thessaloniki, Greece

    2010     'Like Tears in Rain', Palácio des Artes, Fábrica de Talentos, Portugal (exh.cat)

    2009     'Résidence Astral', Victoria & Albert Museum, London

                 ‘Photo 50 09’ London Art Fair, Islington

    2007     'Special Edition Prints' Brahm Gallery, Leeds

    2006     'The Elephant Vanishes', East Room, Tate Modern, London

                 'Northern England in Northern Slovakia', Dom Fotografie, Galeria P.M. Slovakia

    2005     'The Space Between the Sole & the Heal', Globe Gallery, North Shields

    2004     'Trace Editions', Hirschl Contemporary Art, London

                 'Home Ideal Show', Eshoda Arts, Bath (exh.cat)

    2003     'Dislocation', K3 Project Space, Zürich

                 'Interior Life', Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art, Sunderland

                 'Proof', Studio 1.1, London

    2000     ‘Avenue’ Harbourfront Ars Centre, Toronto

    1997     ‘Pandora’s Bath’ Recontre d’Arles International Photography Festival’, France

     

    Video Screenings

    2020     ‘Jura Bound’ Northern gallery for Contemporary Art, Sunderland

    2013     ‘Jura Bound’ Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Wolverhampton

    2008     'Résidence Astral' Centenary Square, Bradford

    2003     ‘Fruit of the Loop', Symposium on Video Art & Food, Immola Museum, Italy (exh.cat)

                 ‘Braziers 2003’ International Artists Workshop exhibition, Oxfordshire (exh. cat)

    2002     'Experimental Spaces 2', Hastings Museum and Art Gallery, Hastings

    2000     'Assembly', Stepney City, London (exh. cat)

     

    Books / Publications / Journal Articles

    Publications Forthcoming

    2023     ‘On Family’, The School of Life, London (forthcoming April 23)

               

    Publications

     2022     ‘Re:Scource’ Sustainable Darkroom, London 

                  ‘The Mushroom Who Saw the Future’ Antennae 58 ‘Mycologies’: The Journal of Art                   and Nature

    2018      Redstone Diary, ‘Home’, Redstone Press, 2018

    2017      Essay in Object-Image S.Tulloch, Daylight Books, 2017

                  ‘This is What I See’ Solo 368 page Artists Monograph with Kerber Verlag, Berlin                         (forthcoming Ed .Kate Best)

    2015     ‘The Thin Blue Line / The Deep Red Sea – explorations of miscarriage and                            pregnancy loss’ NEPN, Essay by Camilla Brown

                 ‘Growing up in the New Age - A Journey into Wonderland?’ in ‘Alternative Worlds –                Blue Sky Thinking Since 1900’ Vidal, Cornils (eds.)

    2013     ‘Growing up in the New Age’, Artists Monograph, Daylight, NY, Essays by Val                            Williams and Malcolm Dickson

    2012     ‘One photograph: Life on the Floor’, Journal of Photography & Culture

                 ‘Encountering the Counterculture’ Field Study 13 (with Dave, Walkling & Val                            Williams)

    2007     'Résidence Astral' Portfolio Magazine, Spring issue

    2006     'Villa Mona - A Proper Kind of House', Artists monograph published by Trace                            Editions  with an essay by Camilla Brown

                  'Residence Astral - Field Study 7', Photography & the Archive Research Centre,                      London

    2004     'Villa Mona - A Proper Kind of House', n.paradoxa - International Feminist Art                            Journal, issue 13 (Domestic Politics)

    2003     'Fash N Riot', issue 2  

    2002     ‘ABC Magazine', issue C (ed. Hussein Chalayan)

                  'Fash N Riot', issue 1

    2000      'Eventful: Photographic Time' (ed. Yve Lomax), Royal College of Art, London 'Royal                 College of Art Show', Royal College of Art, London (ex. cat.)

                 

    Selected Reviews

    2020     ‘This is What I See’ Photomonitor Exhibition review James, H.

                 ‘My Life through a Lens’, Chronicle Newspaper, North East

    2014     ‘Inspirational Photo Books for 2014’ Newman, C and Bonagio, L. The Telegraph

    2013     ‘Countercultural Lifeways’, Gidley, M. Book Review in Source Magazine

                 ‘Growing up in the New Age’ Brown, C. Book Review in Photomonitor  

    2012     ‘Growing up in the New Age’ Stewart, S.Photography highlights on The Radio 2                        Culture Show

    2008     'Résidence Astral' Clark, R. Review, in Guardian Guide, April 19-26 p.36

                 'Villa Mona - A Proper Kind of House', Begbie, G. Book Arts Newsletter no. 31, UWE,                Bristol

                  'Villa Mona - A Proper Kind of House', Hedges, R. Eight Magazine: Home, vol. 5,                     no. 4, spring 2007

    2006     'Looking at the Overlooked' in 'Stilled: Contemporary Still Life Photography by                    Women', Brown, C. Ellipsis volume 3, pp. 74-75

                 'Ghost Worlds: Photography & the Family' Williams, V. in Exit Magazine no.20                        spring 

    2002     ‘Showcase' Creative Review', May 2002

     

    Residencies / Research Fellowships

    2021-22            Artist in Residence: Photographic Garden with Sustainable Darkroom                                      exploring eco-printing and Sustainable Photography, London & Leeds

     

    2019                 Northern Bridge - British School at Rome Residential

                             Selected for the Northern Bridge-British School at Rome Residential

     

    2015-21           Artist in Residence at Dilston Physic Garden, Corbridge.

                            Artist in residence at Dilston Physic Garden undertaking ‘A Delicious Garden’                              looking at the relationship between plants/gardens and people as part of PhD                              research https://dilstonphysicgarden.com/artist-in-residence/

     

    2013-14           Artist in Residence at the Miscarriage Association Charity, Wakefield

                            Undertaken over a one-year period this project led to the creation of ‘The Thin                              Blue Line, The Deep Red Sea - explorations of miscarriage and pregnancy                                  loss’.               

     

    200-/07            Visiting Research Fellow at PARC (Photography and the Archive Research

                            Centre) University of the Creative Arts, London.

                            This two-year fellowship looked at the effects of digital technologies on family                              photography and the shifting nature of these archives in the digital age.

     

    2005                 The Elephant Vanishes, Tate Modern, London

                             This weeklong residency invited artists, writers, filmmakers and photographers                             to explore Elephant and Castle prior to the planned 1.5 billion-regeneration of                             the area. This residency/workshop culminated with a performance and                                         exhibition in the East Room at Tate Modern.

     

    2002-03           Experimental Spaces Hastings Museum & Art Gallery, Hastings

                            Experimental Spaces offered artists the opportunity to use the gallery space to                            develop their own work and work with other artists in full view of the public. My                            work employed photography and Super 8 film to explore the relationship                                      between people and place.

     

    2003                Braziers International Artists Workshop, Oxfordshire

                            Braziers brought together 30 artists from the UK an abroad for 16 days to                                    exchange dialogues and experiment in a way that was mutually beneficial. My                            work explored the communal environment through video and photography.

     

    1999                 Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris

                             The Cité Internationale des Arts is for professional artists who want to develop                             an artistic work in France. During my month long residency I worked with Super                           8/Video, Photography and sound to explore my turbulent relationship with Paris                           a place I lived as a 13year old girl during an unstable period in my childhood.

     

    Selected Artists Talks, Symposiums & Conferences

    2022                 The Photographic Garden Symposium, Leeds Arts University – Artist from                                the  Photographic garden Residency programme presented our research and                              practice on Sustainable Photography.

     

                             Phytogenesis II: Provocations of Plants, Philosophy and Photography

                             Co-organised with Dr Carole Baker our Keynotes included Uriel Orlow and                                   Giovanni Aloi

    2021                Shifts: Photography Environment, Action – Symposium on Sustainable and                            activist practices in Photography – Co-organised with NEPN – Keynote TJ                                    Demos.

    2020                 Hope and Resistance in the Anthropocene’ Symposium – speaker - talk on                             ‘Plants and Protest: How to grow your art and eat it’

     

    2017                 Beyond the Visible: Contemporary visualizations of illness, loss and the                             ‘unseen’ in Photographic Practice, Newcastle

                             Speaker and organiser of symposium in collaboration with The Family Ties                                   Network, Northern Charter and North East Photo Network, Newcastle.

     

    2014                 Patterns of Disclosure: The Narrative Document and Photographic Book

                             Plymouth University, Plymouth

                             Keynote speaker at symposium presenting my book ‘Growing up in the New                               Age’. I discussed the development of this artist initiated research project and                               set  out to reconsider the social utopias of the 1960s and early 70s and what                               we  might learn from them today.

     

    2013                 Family Ties Manchester Met University, Manchester

                             Following on from the selection of my paper ‘The Thin Blue Line, The Deep                                 Red  Sea: artists autobiographical explorations of pregnancy loss’ for the                                     Family  ties conference event at RGS in 2012, I presented work in progress                                 alongside artist Rosy Martin at this Family Ties study day.

     

    2011                 Alternative Worlds The Institute for Germanic and Romance studies,                                         University of London School of Advanced Study, London

                            The series is to examined the dreams, plans and hopes, but also the nightmares                           and fears reflected in utopian thinking since 1900 in the Western hemisphere.                             My talk focused on project ‘Growing up in the New Age’.

     

    2008                 Marking Space – Swansea Metropolitan University / CIRIC, Swansea

                             An interdisciplinary one-day symposium where artists and designers explored                             different interpretations of what it means to ‘mark space’. My talk focused on                               my art practice in a critical context exploring in particular how people ‘mark                                   space’.

     

    2006                Interacting with the Archive; Creative Approaches, National Glass Centre,                              Sunderland.

                            I co-organised this conference in collaboration with Michelle Allen and Interface,                          University of Ulster as part of the series of events; Performing the Archive. I also                          gave a paper on archives and artists working practices.

     

    2007               Picturing the Family - From the Inside Out The National Portrait Gallery,                                   London.

                          This one-day event looked at family Photography. My talk ‘Dirty Linen, Nausea                            and Belgian Waffles’ explored the question “Can a subject ever be too personal?”

     

    2005               Art in Boxes PARC (Photography and the Archive research centre) University                            of the Creative Arts, London.

                          'Art in Boxes' was a series of seminars for invited speakers and MA and PhD                                students held at PARC. My talk asked, “Is the way photographs are collected and                        stored changing forever in the digital age? The talk also explored ideas of the                              miniature in Bachelard’s ‘Poetics of Space’.

     

    Prizes, Awards & Funding 

    2022                 Northern Bridge funding Award for the exhibition ‘A Rose, is a Rose is a Rose’

    2020                 Pioneer Award for Phytogenesis II Symposium

    2019                 Arts Council Funding (Supporting/development fund)

    2018                 Selected for British School at Rome research Award

                             Nomination for 100 Heroines in Photography award

                             Northern Bridge funding awarded for Doctoral Research

    2016                 Arts Council England Funding awarded for ‘A Gardeners Daughter’

    2014                 Winner of Pixel Pin Portfolio Award at Format Photo Festival

    2013                 Arts Council England Funding awarded for ‘The Thin Blue Line / The Deep Red Sea’

    2012                 Arts Council Funding Awarded for ‘Growing up in the New Age’ Artists                                           Monograph and Touring exhibition

    2011                 Arts Council Funding Awarded for ‘Growing up in the New Age’ Research and                               Development

    2009                 Arts Council Funding Awarded for ‘Residence Astral’ Touring Exhibition

    2008                 Arts Council Funding Awarded for ‘Residence Astral’ Research and                                               Development

    2007                University of Sunderland and UCAL Research Development Fellowship                                        Awarded for ‘The Last Picture Show’

    2005                Arts Council Funding Awarded for ‘Villa Mona’ Artists Monograph

    2003                Arts Council Funding Awarded for ‘Braziers International Artists workshop’

     

     

    Industry Experience & Television

    2006                 Selected to represent The North on ‘A Digital Picture of Britain’/ twin                                              programme  to A Picture of Britain. (BBC1 & 2) / BBC location event Blackpool                            public workshops and meet the artist tour as part of ‘A Digital Picture of Britain’

     

     

    1996-98            First Assistant to Award winning Photographer Jane Hilton.

                             Worked on shoots for The Observer, The Times, Next Directory, BHS,                                           Freemans,  Hush Puppies, Superdrug, GQ, Esquire and on Photographic                                     exhibitions and books shot on location in Nevada dessert, Las Vegas and Palm                           Springs

     

     

    Work in Collections

    Victoria & Albert Museum, London, Serralves Museum, Porto, Hastings Museum and Art Gallery, East Sussex, Pavilion, Leeds, Private Collections, Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art