Shelly Goldsmith

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Artist statement

‘Goldsmith is amongst the foremost textile artists working in the UK at the present time’.       Prof. Lesley Millar MBE Director Anglo Japanese Textile Research Centre      

Shelly Goldsmith uses textile materials and processes as a metaphor for imagining how psychological states, emotions and memories associated with human fragility and loss can be made visible in cloth and pre-worn clothing.                    

Working on a long-term project funded by the Arts Council and the Wellcome Trust, Goldsmith is building a body of work entitled ‘Stains and Stories’. Developing on from her partnership with the Forensic Science Service this work is influenced by forensic theories and methodologies in relation to worn clothing, life experience and memory. 

"Shelly brings to her practice a close interest in the scientific measuring, charting and prediction associated with the study of human biology. This has led her to attend and observe a wide range of procedures: from sonography sessions in the Harris Birthright Centre for Neonatal Medicine at King's College Hospital, to the analysis and interpretation of body fluid, DNA and other trace material, at the Forensic Science Service.                                                                       Back in the studio, she examines these researches in the light of intuition, empathy and personal experience. Investigating the regions that may exist between the objective analysis of data, and subjective responses to it, she persistently interrogates the fragilities and fluidities of life.                                                                                                                           With comprehensive knowledge of textile media, Shelly's skilled application of materials and processes is further informed by a developed understanding of the associations these may evoke for the viewer - an aspect of her practice that she continually tests and extends.                 

Shelly's metaphors of flooding, staining, and seepage may also be applied to the processes of the unconscious she explores. Shelly's work offers opportunities for the viewer to participate in a stream of consciousness that may bring fresh perspectives – not only to traditional skills and processes (the textile media she employs), but also to a fundamental understanding of ourselves, our relationship with the world we inhabit, and the residues we leave behind".                            Jane Wildgoose:  Reviewing the Data, Charting the Flow.

New collaborations with Dr. Annie Shaw at MMU,  Barber/Swindells at Huddersfield University and the Chrysalis project at UCA (a European collaborative project including partners Calais Lace Museum & Ronse Textile Musuem) have raised opportunites to provoke fresh outcomes as well as present findings and new understandings.     'The Bolingbroke Hospital: a view looking back' is currently shown at caa London Jtill July 21st 2012.

2012 sees five new books/catalogues published featuring Goldsmiths research and practice, including Jessica Hemming’s book 'The Textile Reader', ‘Digital Textile Design 2’ by Melanie Bowles & Ceri Isaac and Barber/Swindell’s ‘Mining Couture.  In 2011 Goldsmith wrote the article ‘Scrap of a thing :18th Century Textile Tokens from the Foundling Hospital’ for Selvedge Magazine.

An experienced lecturer, Goldsmith regularly contributes to many UK higher educational programmes; she is external Examiner at Manchester Metropolitan University, University of Huddersfield and Bath Spa University.

Goldsmith founded the pioneering Textile Art department at Winchester School of Art, University of Southampton, directed the BA (Hons) Textile Art and MA Degree, Textiles Practice and Theory where she was a Senior Lecturer 1991 – 2006.

Goldsmith regularly contributes to conferences and seminars, including Enfolded Meanings at the National Gallery, London, Fabriconversations at Nottingham Trent University and for the Threads of Feeling exhibition at the Foundling Museum, London.

Goldsmith is currently a trustee for the Crafts Council of Great Britain.

tippinggoldsmith  is a creative partnership set up in 2009.
Collaborating with the site specific designer Christopher Tipping and joining their range of knowledge and experience the partnership expands Goldsmith’s practice through public and permanent installations, whilst developing Tipping's ideas into a gallery context.
Recent outputs have been 'Mille Fleur' - Architectural Glass for The Dyson Centre for Neo Natal Intensive Care, commissioned by the Royal United Hospital, Bath, (NHS Foundation Trust) and the installation '1479 plates', The Octago, Bath.

Qualifications and training

  • 1987 MA Degree, Royal College of Art, London
  • 1985 Woven Textiles, West Surrey College of Art and Design, Farnham

Employment

  • 2012 Lecturer, University for the Creative Arts, Canterbury & Rochester 2010-2012
  • 2012 External Examiner, Huddersfield University, 2009-2012
  • 2012 External Examiner, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester
  • 2012 External Examiner, Bath Spa University, Bath
  • 2011 External Panel Member, Programme Validation, Manchester Metropolitan University
  • 2011 Mentor, Hothouse Mentoring Programme, administrated by UCA Farnham 2010-2011
  • 2011 External Examiner, University of Hertfordshire, 2007-2011
  • 2011 Project Manager/Agent, Creative Partnerships Programme in 9 Kent schools, 2007-11
  • 2011 Co-Mentor, Reflect-Lab, The Sage Gateshead, 2010-2011
  • 2010 Visiting Lecturer, University for the Creative Arts, Farnham 2009-2010
  • 2009 Selector, Nottingham Open Exhibition, 2010
  • 2009 Advisor, The 2010 Art Foundation’s Textile Art Prize, London
  • 2009 Visiting Lecturer, Norwich School of Art, East Anglia
  • 2009 Visiting Lecturer, Swansea Metropolitan University, Wales
  • 2009 visiting Lecturer, University of Ulster, Belfast
  • 2008 Lecturer, MFA Textiles, Goldsmiths College, University of London, 2006-2008
  • 2008 Tutor/coordinator, Youth Art Project, Folkestone Triennial, Kent
  • 2007 Lecturer, BA (Hons) Textiles, Goldsmiths College, University of London, 2006-2007
  • 2006 Senior Lecturer/Founder & Director of Textile Art Dept. (BA) Hons Textile Art/M.A. Textile Practice and Theory, Winchester School of Art, University of Southampton, 1991-06

Solo exhibitions

  • 2012 'The Lovers' , Site specific installation, The Duke of York Public House, Royal Tunbridge Wells, PublicArtHouse & Tunbridge Wells Museum Commission
  • 2006 'becoming', Victoria & Albert Museum, Crafts Council showcase
  • 2001 'Ripened', Angel Row Gallery, Nottingham
  • 1999 'Dew Point', Centre de Documentaicio i Museu Textil, Terrassa, Spain & Gallery Aoyama, Tokyo, Japan & Pricewaterhousecoopers, Charing Cross Building, London
  • 1997 'flow', Barbican Arts Centre, London

Group exhibitions

  • 2012 'The Bolingbroke Hospital: a view looking back', CAA Gallery, London, 14th June - 21st July 2012
  • 2012 Pairings II, Stroud International Textile Festival, Stroud, UK
  • 2012 'Bitesize', Anglo Diawa Foundation, London, GalleryGallery, Kyoto & Nagoya University of the Arts and Science, Tokyo, Japan
  • 2011 'Lost & Found', Nottingham Castle Museum and Art Gallery, Nottingham
  • 2010 'Art/Design/Craft Dialogue', Christine Walker Gallery, Caterham
  • 2010 'Revealing Evidence', Pitzhanger Manor Gallery and House, London
  • 2010 'Print Now', BEARSPACE, Deptford, & London Art Fair
  • 2009 'Turner Open', Turner Contemporary, Margate, Kent
  • 2008 'Four Seasons', Gallery DODO, Tokyo, Japan
  • 2008 'Indelible: Every Contact Leaves a Trace', Fabrica, Brighton
  • 2008 'Margate Rocks' - Contemporary Art Festival, Humbug Gallery, Margate, Kent
  • 2008 'Cloth & Culture', World Art Collections: Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, Norwich
  • 2007 'Deep Inspirations', Jerwood Gallery, London
  • 2006 'Out of Place', The New Art Gallery, Walsall
  • 2006 'Penelope's Thread', Victoria & Albert Museum, London
  • 2006 'Depth of Field: Conversations between photography and textiles', mac, Birmingham and touring
  • 2005 'Reveal: Nottingham's Contemporary Textiles', Castle Museum and Gallery, Nottingham
  • 2004 'Japanese & British Art Now : A Review', The Art Planning Room AOYAMA, Tokyo, Japan
  • 2002 'Jerwood Applied Arts Prize: Textiles', Crafts Council Gallery, London and touring
  • 2001 'Succulent Fruits', Spica Museum, Tokyo, Japan
  • 2000 'Core', Millais Gallery, Southampton
  • 2000 'Fold: The Newspaper of the Unconscious', The Freud Museum, Hampstead, London
  • 2000 'ripe', 3 Up Series at The Crafts Council Gallery, London
  • 1999 'Heart 1', Collaborative project/exhibition with Chikako Mori, Gallery Aoyama, Tokyo, Japan
  • 1999 'Swanky Hankies', Jam Factory, Adelaide & Centre for Contemporary Craft, Sydney & EcoMusee des Textiles, Fourmies, France 1997-1999
  • 1998 'British Art Now: 98', Axis Gallery & British Embassy, Tokyo, Japan
  • 1998 'Harmony: Interpretation of Nature in Contemporary Textiles', Fernbank Museum of Natural History, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
  • 1997 'Woven Image: Contemporary British Tapestry', The Barbican, London and touring
  • 1994 'Pitch', Site specific installation at Trinity Buoy Wharf, London Docklands
  • 1990 'New British Textile Art', Ninonbashi Takashimaya Dept. Store Gallery, Tokyo, Takashimaya Department Store Gallery, Kyoto, Japan

Artist talks

  • 2012 Pairings II, Stroud International Textile Festival, Symposium
  • 2011 'Hidden Stories', Threads of Feeling exhibition, Foundling Museum, London
  • 2010 'Stains & Stories', Swansea Metropolitan University, Norwich School of Art & University for the Creative Arts
  • 2009 Masterclass and lecture, Ulster University & Ormeau Baths Gallery, Northern Ireland
  • 2008 'Enfolded Meanings' , Symposium, National Gallery, London
  • 2008 'Every Contact Leave a Trace', Symposium, Fabrica, Brighton
  • 2005 'Fabricsonversations', Symposium, Angel Row Gallery, Nottingham
  • 2005 'At the Edge-Extending Textile Boundaries' , Textile Forum South West Conference, Somerset College of Art and Design, Taunton
  • 2004 'Conversations in Contemporary Craft', Collect Art Fair, V&A Museum, London
  • 2004 'Working Together', Brunel Broderers Symposium, Gloucester Musuem & Gallery
  • 2003 'Textile Vocabularies : Innovation in Practice', Textile Symposium, Heriot Watt University, Scotland
  • 2000 'Woven Image', Barbican Centre, London
  • 1999 'Dew Point', Centre de Documentacio i Museu Textil, Terrassa, Spain

Private commissions

  • 2011 Jane Barr Memorial Commission, Leek, Staffordshire

Public commissions

  • 2012 Central Concourse Artwork,, Jubilee Building, New Surgical - Musgrove Park Hospital, Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton & Somerset NHS Foundation Trust - tippinggoldsmith
  • 2012 'Bransholme Seed Cloud' Site specific artwork digitally printed on optically clear vinyl. Commissioned by Esteem Consortium, Winifred Holtby Secondary & Tweendykes Special School, Bransholme, Hull - tippinggoldsmith
  • 2012 'Under Your Shade', Day Treatment Unit - Oxford Cancer Centre, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, Oxford - tippinggoldsmith
  • 2011 ‘Mille Fleur' - Architectural Glass, The Dyson Centre for Neo Natal Intensive Care Unit, Commissioned by the Royal United Hospital, Bath, (NHS Foundation Trust) - tippinggoldsmith
  • 2010 Three Glass Screen Commissions, New Minehead Hospital, Somerset - tippinggoldsmith
  • 2007 David Chipperfield Architects, The River and Rowing Museum, Henley-on-Thames

Competitions, prizes and awards

  • 2010 Theo Moorman Trust, Research trip to the Museum Dr. Guislain, Ghent, Belgium
  • 2009 Shortlisted for LICC, London International Creative Award, London
  • 2007 Grants to Individuals Award, Arts Council South-East, Kent
  • 2005 'Japanese Mizuko-Jizo shrines: birth and death in close proximity', UK Trade and Investments, Research and Travel Grant
  • 2002 Jerwood Prize: Textiles, Jerwood Foundation, London

Publications

  • 2012 'Mining Couture. A Manifesto for Common Wear', Barber Swindells, - 'Ruminations with Shelly Goldsmith', black dog publishing pg18-23
  • 2012 'The Bolingbroke Hospital: a view backwards', Liz Woods, Exhibition Catalogue, St. Georges Hospital Charity Publication, pg 2,9,10,13
  • 2012 'Dyeing and Screen printing on Textiles', Joanna Kinnersly-Taylor, A & C Black Publishers
  • 2012 'Pairings II - conversations & collaborations', Alice Kettle, Dawn Mason & Simon Oldfield, Stroud International Textiles Publication, pg 5,8,30,42
  • 2012 'The Textile Reader' , Jessica Hemmings (Editor), Jane Wildgoose - 'Considering the Evidence', Berg Publishers, pg 64-67
  • 2012 'Digital Textile Design' Second Edition, Melanie Bowles & Ceri Isaac, Laurence King Publishers, pg 143, 160-1
  • 2012 'Tapestry: A Woven Narrative', Timothy Wilcox/Caron Penney/Fiona Mathison, Black Dog Publishers
  • 2011 'Bitesize – Miniature Textiles From Japan And The UK', Lesley Millar, Exhibition Catalogue, pg 38
  • 2011 'Heat Transfer Techniques' , Dawn Dupree, A&C Black Publishers, pg 50, 70,71, 72
  • 2010 'Ten to See: Recommended Exhibitions this season', Aesthetics Magazine, Sept, pg 21
  • 2010 'Scrap of a thing: 18th Century Textile Tokens from the Foundling Hospital', AUTHORED by Shelly Goldsmith for Selvedge Magazine issue 36 Sept/Oct, pg 37 – 40
  • 2010 'Things Seen And Unseen', by Emma Love for Craft Magazine, Sept/Oct, pg 56- 59
  • 2010 'Goldwork', by Polly Leonard for Selvedge Magazine, Sept/Oct, pg 07
  • 2010 Preview, Beatrijs Sterk for European Textile Forum Magazine 3/10, pg 22
  • 2009 'Cloth & Culture Now', Exhibition Review, Christine Elliott Grey for Textile: The Journal of Cloth and Culture, Berg Publishers, Volume 7, Issue 2 July, pg 252-255
  • 2009 'Digital Textile Design', Melanie Bowles & Ceri Isaac for Laurence King Publishers, pg160-161
  • 2008 'Wall to Wall Winners', by Emma Crichton-Miller for The Financial Times, Nov 10th
  • 2008 Indelible: Every Contact Leaves a Trace', Review Clare Moloney for 24 Hour Museum, http://www.24hourmuseum.org.uk/nwh_gfx_en/ART57597.html
  • 2008 'Reviewing the Data, Charting the Flow', essay by Jane Wildgoose,
  • 2008 'Indelible: Every Contact Leaves a Trace', Exhibition Review, Hattie Gordon for Embroidery Magazine, Sept, pg 57
  • 2008 'Shelly Goldsmith: Cloth and Culture Now' AUTHORED by Shelly Goldsmith, Exhibition Catalogue, Lesley Millar (editor), pg 8, 27, 99, 158/61
  • 2007 What’s on Previews, Mark S, Gubb for a-n Magazine, September, pg 12
  • 2007 'The Craft of fine art', Sarah Walters for The Manchester Evening News, Friday July 13th, pg 16/17
  • 2007 'Textiles Today: A global survey of trends & traditions' by Chloe Colchester, Thames & Hudson Publishers, pg 166/7
  • 2007 'Tilleke Schwarz: Mark Making' , Book Review AUTHORED by Shelly Goldsmith for Craft Magazine, No 207, pg 70/71
  • 2007 'Great British talents pay tribute to V&A’s 150 years', E Hopkirk for Evening standard, Thursday June 28th, pg 22/23
  • 2007 'Depth of Field: Conversations Between Photography and Textiles', Review by Rhiannon Williams for Selvedge Magazine, Issue 16, pg 89
  • 2006 'Shelly Goldsmith', New Art on View, by Sarah Sterkaoui, Scala Publications, pg104,105.109
  • 2006 'Depth of Field: Conversations Between Textiles and Photography', Review in Muse Magazine, Issue II Space Form & Time, May
  • 2006 'Dressing up an art form', Conrad Astley for metromagazine, Friday May 19th
  • 2006 'Living in a material world', by Terry Grimley for The Birmingham Post Newspaper, Monday January 30th
  • 2006 'A stitch in past time', Andrezej Lukowski for Metro Life, Metro Newspaper, Tuesday January 17th, pg 31
  • 2005 'Memories clothed in disturbing oddities', Morgan Falconer, The Times Newspaper, September 27th, pg 24
  • 2005 'Shelly Goldsmith', Revealed Catalogue, by Lesley Millar, pg 2,3,14,15,44,45
  • 2005 'Children of the waters' AUTHORED by Shelly Goldsmith for Selvedge Magazine, issue 04 Jan/Feb 05, pg 52-53

Other

  • 2012 Maker Trustee for the Crafts Council of Great Britain, London, 2007-2013
  • 2004 Purchase by the Contemporary Art Society Collection Scheme, on behalf of Castle Musuem, Nottingham
  • 2000 Purchase for the Crafts Council of Great Britain, Permanent Collection, London
  • 2000 Purchase by the Contemporary Art Society Collection Scheme, for Castle Museum, Nottingham
  • 1999 Purchase for The Whitworth Museum and Gallery, Permanent Textile Collection, Manchester
  • 1995 Purchase for the Contemporary Textile Collection, The Victoria & Albert Museum, London
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