Artist statement
Born in 1974, Ben Cove grew up in Manchester and currently lives and works in London. He graduated from Goldsmiths College, University of London with an MFA in 2008 having previously completed undergraduate degrees in Fine Art at Sheffield Hallam University in 2001 and Architecture at The University of Nottingham in 1995.
Since 2001 he has exhibited widely and his solo exhibitions include Practical Mechanics at Cell Project Space, London and New Plastic Universal at Castlefield Gallery, Manchester. He has been the recipient of a number of awards including the Goldsmiths Warden's MFA Purchase Award, several Arts Council Awards for Artists and an Acme Studio's bursary as part of a 4 year live / work residency at the Fire Station in Bow, London.
In addition to studio work and residencies, he has taught and given lectures at various universities across the UK. His work is not bound by any specific media and includes painting, drawing, sculpture, installation and video.
Qualifications and training
- 2010 PG Cert in Higher Education (Teaching), Chelsea College of Art & Design, UAL, London
- 2008 MFA Fine Art, Goldsmiths College, London
- 2001 BA (Hons) Fine Art [1st Class], Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield
- 1995 BA (Hons) Architecture, University of Nottingham, Nottingham
Solo exhibitions
- 2006 Practical Mechanics, Cell Project Space, London
- 2004 New Plastic Universal, Castlefield Gallery, Manchester
- 2002 Tilted, LMU Gallery, Leeds
Group exhibitions
- 2012 First Come First Served, Lion & Lamb Gallery, London
- 2012 Diamond Armour, Article Gallery, University of Birmingham
- 2012 Zeitgeist Open, ASC, London
- 2012 Ground Control, Elements Gallery, Bath
- 2012 Temples 2 the Domestic, Clifford Chance, London
- 2012 Niet Normaal, The Bluecoat, Liverpool
- 2012 Put Your Money Where Your Eyes Are, Castlefield Gallery, Manchester
- 2012 T4C British Showcase, CL Projects, Farmers and Merchants Bank, Los Angeles, USA
- 2012 Man & Dog, Jiq Jaq Gallery, London
- 2012 Ha Ha What Does This Represent?, Standpoint Gallery, London
- 2011 Vessel (British Art Show 7 fringe), George Place, Stonehouse, Plymouth (more info)
- 2011 Peering Sideways, PSL - Project Space Leeds, Leeds
- 2011 L'Ultima Cena, Refettorio di San Michele, Pescia, Italy
- 2011 Re-Covering, Untitled Gallery, Manchester
- 2010 Spirit Level 010, Go Modern, London
- 2010 CUBE Open 2010, CUBE Gallery, Manchester
- 2010 Unrealised Potential, Cornerhouse Gallery, Manchester
- 2010 Roaming ROOM, ROOM Gallery, London
- 2010 Print Now, BearSpace Gallery and London Art Fair, London
- 2009 Le Roman Du Lievre: Marginalia, MTS Gallery, Anchorage, USA
- 2009 Compound, August Art, london
- 2009 Between My Finger and My Thumb, Schwartz Gallery, London
- 2009 Commissioned Artist - Wirksworth Festival, Parish Rooms, Wirksworth
- 2009 Creekside Open [Part 1 - Jenni Lomax selection], APT Gallery, Deptford, London
- 2008 Without You It's Nothing, Cockpit Arts, London
- 2008 Fluid Foundations, Fieldgate Gallery [offsite], London
- 2008 Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, Whitehall Offices, London
- 2008 Cantilever, Collyer Bristow Gallery, London
- 2008 SPACE Now!, SPACE Gallery, London
- 2007 Dorian Gray, Vegas Gallery, London
- 2007 Public Pages, Dartington School of Art, Totnes
- 2006 Celeste Art Prize, Truman Brewery, London
- 2006 New Trends in Painting Since 2000, The City Gallery, Leicester
- 2005 Young British Art, The Castle of Art, Cieszen, Poland
- 2005 Catapults and High Jinx, London Print Studio Gallery, London
- 2003 Thermo 03, The Lowry, Manchester
- 2003 Flatlands, Pumphouse Gallery, London
- 2001 Bloodstream/Sho1, Islington Mill, Salford
- 2001 Northern Graduates, Curwen and New Academy Galleries, London
Residencies
- 2010 Acme Studios Fire Station Residency/Bursary, Acme Fire Station, London
- 2007 Art Gene - 2 month Research and Development, Art Gene, Barrow, Cumbria
- 2003 Yorkshire Art Space / Art House Residency, Persistence Works, Sheffield
Competitions, prizes and awards
- 2008 Warden's Purchase Award, Goldsmith's College, London
- 2006 Celeste Art Prize - Finalist, The Truman Brewery, Brick Lane, London
- 2005 North West Open Prize - Winner, Art Gene, Barrow, Cumbria
Educational experience - tertiary
- 2012 Visiting Lecturer, Wimbledon School of Art, London
- 2012 Visiting Lecturer, University of Brighton, Brighton
- 2011 Visiting Lecturer, Staffordshire University, Staffordshire
- 2010 Visiting Lecturer, Winchester School of Art, Winchester
- 2009 Visiting Lecturer, University of Coventry, Coventry
- 2003 Visiting Lecturer, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield
Site specific
- 2011 Acme Studios Fire Station Centenary, Site Specific Long-Life Commission, Acme Fire Station, Bow, London
Web links - gallery/work/projects
Personal website
