Artist statement
Katayoun Dowlatshahi creates work for public and private commissions and specialises in photography, drawing, architectural glass and time based media. She has successfully integrated contemporary art into a variety of landscapes, public spaces, regeneration projects and urban environments.
Her practice is rooted in printmaking in the broadest sense. She has developed an interdisciplinary approach to her work; context and site specificity are always integral and are also motivating factors when researching new projects for gallery based work as well as public realm commissions. Photography is a constant in her work, often deconstructed and combined with other materials to produce fascinating results.
In one of her latest projects, Orbit, the curator Les Buckingham comments on Katayoun’s exceptional assemblage of photographic works. He writes, "The results are always thought-provoking and intellectually rigorous, but they are also emotionally connected, and moving on a human scale. In short, they are beautiful."
This summarises and encapsulates Katayoun’s devotion and care in bringing together detailed studies combined with her own personal touches to each project. She presents each work in a contemplative and creative way enabling the viewer to experience an inspirational, artistic and uplifting display.
Kate Sweeney
Art Perspective: Art in Architechture
www. p e r s p e c t i v e a i a . c om
Qualifications and training
- 2005 Doctorate in Drawing, University of Gloucestershire, Cheltenham
- 1994 MA in European Fine Art, Winchester School of Art / Southhampton University, Winchester / Barcelona
- 1991 BA Hons in Printmaking, Edinburgh College of Art, Edinburgh, Scotland
- 1987 Pre-BA Foundation Course, Reigate College of Art and Design, Reigate, Surrey, England
Employment
- 2005 Part Time Art Teacher, Mayville High School, Southsea, Hampshire
- 2005 Director on the board of AXIS, The Round Foundry Media Centre, Leeds, England
- 2000 Elected President - 2002, Society of Scottish Artists, Edinburgh, Scotland
- 2000 Part-time lecturer, University of Gloucestershire, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England
- 1999 Associate Lecturer, University of Northumbria at Newcastle, Newcastle Upon Tyne
- 1998 Part-time Lecturer, University of Sunderland, Sunderland, England
- 1998 Visiting Artist, University of Newcastle, Newcastle Upon Tyne, England
- 1998 Visiting Artist, University of Northumbria at Newcastle, Newcastle Upon Tyne, England
- 1997 Professional Council Member - 2000, Society of Scottish Artists, Edinburgh, Scotland
- 1995 Part-time Lecturer, Edinburgh College of Art, Edinburgh, Scotland
- 1995 Trustee and Treasurer for the Salisbury Trust - 1998, The Salisbury Centre, Edinburgh, Scotland
Solo exhibitions
- 2012 Orbit, 1st Floor Gallery, Portsmouth, Hampshire
- 2011 Orbit, The West Gallery, Quay Arts, Newport, Isle of Wight
- 2010 'Liminal', Space Gallery, Portsmouth, Hampshire
- 2009 Liminal, jGallery, Moulton, Northampton
- 2007 Katayoun Dowlatshahi, Pottinger Gallery, Portsmouth, Hampshire
- 2000 Fotoseptiembre International Photography Biennal, San Antonio, Texas, USA
- 2000 Internal Realms: External Spaces, Queens Hall, Hexham, Northumberland
- 1999 Internal Realms: External Spaces, Part 1, Vardy Gallery, Sunderland
- 1999 Internal Realms: External Spaces, Part 2, Durham Cathedral, Durham
- 1997 Private Bodies, Public Forms, Fotofeis, Aberdeen Art Gallery, Aberdeen
- 1997 Traces of Self, Plymouth Arts Centre, Plymouth
- 1993 Artist a Week, Collective Gallery, Edinburgh
- 1991 Reciprocal Nature, Shore Gallery, Edinburgh
Group exhibitions
- 2011 Restless Nature, Newlyn Art Gallery, Newlyn
- 2011 Restless Nature, Collyer Bristow Gallery, London
- 2010 Outside In, SW1 Gallery, London
- 2010 Heft: Weight and Touch in Contemporary Art, The Gallery, Winchester Discovery Centre, Winchester
- 2010 Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, Royal Academy, London
- 2010 From the Darkness - Light in Contemporary Art, Mascalls Gallery, Brighton
- 2010 ArtSway Open, ArtSway, Sway, Hampshire
- 2008 800feet, Space Gallery, Portsmouth, Hampshire
- 2008 'Acquire', Aspex Gallery, Portsmouth, Hampshire
- 2007 'Tracing Light', The Royal West of England Academy, Bristol
- 2006 SSA on Screen, Touring Show, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh & Perth (more info)
- 2006 A Sculptural Landscape, Link Gallery, The University of Winchester, Winchester (more info)
- 2004 SSA Contemporary Open, Society of Scottish Artists at the Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh, Scotland
- 2004 Tracing Light, The University of Gloucestershire, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England
- 2003 Westonbirt International Festival of Gardens, Westonbirt Arboretum, Westonbirt, Gloucestershire
- 2003 In Focus, Gracefield Arts Centre, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
- 2003 Torbay Arts Festival, Old Spanish Barn, Torquay, Devon
- 2003 Lux Open 2003: A Dnet Project, Royal College of Art, London
- 2002 'ING', ING Foundation, London
- 2002 'Past Masters', Stroud House Gallery, Stroud
- 2001 Eyepoppers, Guildhall Arts Centre, Gloucester
- 1999 Silk Purse, Weygood Gallery, Newcastle Upon Tyne
- 1999 Towards the Millenium, Artsway, Sway
- 1997 Brave Art, Peacock Printmakers Gallery, Aberdeen
- 1997 The Line Gallery, Linlithgow
- 1996 Business and Art, Mexican Cultural Institute, San Antonio, USA
- 1996 Society of Scottish Artists, RSA Gallery, Edinburgh
- 1996 Brave Art, Mayfest, Glasgow
- 1996 A Sense of Place, McRoberts Art Centre, Stirling
- 1995 Winchester Graduates, Stansell Gallery, Taunton
- 1994 Caja de Madrid, Plaza Catalun'a, Barcelona, SPAIN
- 1994 Tallers Oberts 1994, Barcelona, SPAIN
Residencies
- 2006 Residency, Santa Fe Art Institute, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA (more info)
- 2005 6 Month Digital Fellowship, The Forest of Dean / The University of Gloucestershire, Gloucestershire
- 2000 Resident Artist, Fotoseptiembre 2000, International Photography Festival, San Antonio, Texas, USA
- 1998 Durham Cathedral Artist in Residence, Durham Cathedral, Durham, County Durham, England
- 1995 Resident Artist, Applied and Architectural Glass, Edinburgh College of Art, Edinburgh, Scotland
Public commissions
- 2012 Lead Artist for Northwich, Cheshire West and Chester Council, Northwich, Cheshire
- 2009 Bletchley Commission, Redrow Homes, Bletchley Park, Bletchley
- 2009 Back Badge Square Commission, Gloucester Heritage Regeneration Trust, Gloucester Docks, Gloucestershire
- 2008 Newton Abbot Community Hospital Sanctuary Commission, League of Friends, Newton Abbot, Devon
- 2008 'Fading Yarns: Remember Me', High Cross Commission, Hammerson, Leicester City Centre
- 2007 'Exeter Traceries', Princesshay Commission, Land Securities Group PLC, Bedford Square, Exeter City Centre
- 2007 St. Mildred's Tannery Commission, Canterbury City Council and Bellway Homes, Canterbury City Centre
- 2006 Wednesfield Link Commission, Competition Shortlist, Wolverhampton City Council and Cardiff Bay Arts Trust, Wednesfield, Wolverhampton (more info)
- 2006 Beehive Centre Commission, British Land PLC, Cambridge
- 2005 Sunniside Gardens Commission, Competition Shortlist, City of Sunderland & Sunniside Partnership, Sunderland (more info)
- 2005 Hexham Swimming Pool Project, Tynedale Council & GLR Architects, Hexham (more info)
- 2003 Lead Artist: for the consultation and design of an artwork, Commissioned by CITE, Commissions In The Environment, Bacup, Lancashire
- 2003 Site specific artwork for Cunard, Commissioned by Elstone Haze Associates, Arcadia (Cunard) Cruise Liner, UK
- 2003 To create a temporary site specific art work for the Arboretum, Commissioned by SWPA Ltd and the Forestry Commission, Westonbirt International Festival of Gardens, Westonbirt
- 2000 Competition Shortlist, Modus Operandi Art Consultants, Victoria Street, London
- 2000 Competition Shortlist, Commissions North & National Glass Centre, Newcastle International Airport
- 1999 'Light: Past and Present', East Lothian Council, Haddington, East Lothian, Scotland (more info)
- 1998 'Waterways', Nairn and Inverness Enterprises and Scottish Waterways Ltd, Fort Augustus, Scotland
- 1995 Competition Shortlist, PACA & London Docklands Development Corp, Cannon Workshops, West Ferry Road, Isle of Dogs, London
Corporate commissions
- 2006 Existing art work bought for the University collection, The University of Winchester, Winchester, Hampshire
- 2000 'The Nature of Geometry' bought for collection, The City of San Antonio, International Centre, San Antonio, Texas, USA
Projects
- 2010 Beyond the Looking Glass, Millais Gallery Offsite Projects, Sir James Matthews Building, Southampton
- 2006 'Reveal - Scratching the Surface', The Forest of Dean and The University of Gloucestershire, The Forest of Dean (more info)
- 2003 'Photographic Tracings', Westonbirt Festival of Gardens and Insite Art, Westonbirt Arboretum (more info)
Competitions, prizes and awards
- 2011 Visual Arts Award, Arts Council England, South East
- 2010 Quay Arts Open Exhibition Winner, The West Gallery, Quay Arts, Newport, Isle of Wight
- 2009 Visual Arts Award, Arts Council England, South East
- 2003 Visual Arts Award, Arts Council of England (South West), Exeter, England
- 2002 Sir Richard Stapley Educational Trust, Faversham, Kent
- 2002 Eleanor Greenwood Fund, The University of Gloucestershire, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England
- 2002 Dame Janet Trotter Trust, The University of Gloucestershire, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England
- 2000 Travel and Training Award, Northern Arts, Newcastle, England
- 2000 Visual Arts Award, Northern Arts, Sunderland, England
- 1997 The S.A.A.C. Award, Scottish Artists, Artist Craftsmen, RSA Galleries, Edinburgh, Scotland
- 1996 The S.S.A. Award, Society of Scottish Artists, RSA Galleries, Edinburgh, Scotland
- 1992 The Princes Trust Award, The Salisbury Centre, Edinburgh, Scotland
- 1989 The Andrew Grant Travelling Scholarship, Edinburgh College of Art, Edinburgh, Scotland
Educational experience - tertiary
- 1995 AMTIS: The Arts Management Training Initiative Scotland, 'Survival Skills for Visual Artists' at Moray House, Edinburgh, Scotland
Web links - article/press
Personal website
