Adam Neal’s work is inspired and informed by his surroundings. Having spent his formative years living in the residential area of Northfield, Birmingham, he has witnessed first hand the changing face of industry and social class categorisations within the U.K. Growing up in a traditional ‘working-class’ family, Neal has been able to witness the change within the culture and how the ‘working-class’ have adapted to contemporary societal changes. The intricacies of his surroundings have manifested themselves within his practice, and as such Neal operates at the intersections of social class, dealing with issues of masculinity and familial relationships.
Adam Neal’s work is inspired and informed by his surroundings. Having spent his formative years living in the residential area of Northfield, Birmingham, he has witnessed first hand the changing face of industry and social class categorisations within the U.K. Growing up in a traditional ‘working-class’ family, Neal has been able to witness the change within the culture and how the ‘working-class’ have adapted to contemporary societal changes. The intricacies of his surroundings have manifested themselves within his practice, and as such Neal operates at the intersections of social class, dealing with issues of masculinity and familial relationships.
Through photography-based methods, and referencing Dutch Still-Life frameworks, Neal translates his surroundings and familial relationships. Working between objects and environments Neal re-presents the visual and material culture of the working class to iconographic objects that speak of the poignancy of the everyday and family life. Encapsulating satire, sentimentality and sincerity, Neal’s work offers insights into a precarious way of life that’s constantly shifting.
Education
2019-21 MA Film and Photography, University of Derby (part-time)
2015-18 BA Hons Fine Art, Birmingham City University (First Class Honours)
2013-15 Extended Diploma, Art and Design, HOW College Bromsgrove
Employment and Experience
2020 The Barber Institute of Fine Arts, Casual Visitor Assistant, Birmingham
Stuart Whipps, Studio Assistant, Grand Union, Digbeth
Visiting Tutor, Gateway College, Leicester
2019 Visiting Tutor, Fine Art, Birmingham City University
Visiting Tutor, Art and Design, Bournville College, Birmingham
2018 Guest Lecturer, Art and Design, Heart of Worcestershire College Bromsgrove
Other experience
2019 Producer, Change Maker Programme, TMC, Leicester (March – June)
Filmmaker, re:connections, Ladywood, Birmingham (March – April)
Filmmaker, Assignation Seat Project, Ikon Birmingham (June)
Intern, GRAIN Projects, Birmingham (June)
Programme Co-Ordinator, Night School, Birmingham School of Art
Producer, Photocafe, GRAIN, Birmingham (September)
Ikon, The Kipper and Corpse, Birmingham (September)
Workshop Deliverer, Co-Op(t),Arty Party 2, Coventry (September)
Filmaker, Being There, Ikon, Birmingham (September)
2018 Archivist, Built to Last: Austin Village at 100, Longbridge (February)
Residencies
2020 Whitworth Wallis Artist Fellowship, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery
2019 Graduate Artist-in-Residence, Grand Union, Digbeth, Birmingham
2018 Graduate Artist-in-Residence, Coventry Artspace, Eaton House
Graduate-in-Residence, Birmingham City University
Organisations
2019 Trustee, Meadow Arts, Worcestershire
Volunteering
2014 – 19 Northfield Little League, Birmingham
2019 Volunteer, Recent Activity, Birmingham
2017 Volunteer, Longbridge Public Art Project, Birmingham
Solo Exhibitions
2019 In Loving Memory Of, Arcadia, Coventry (August)
Group Exhibitions
2020 Ways of Belonging: Taste, Ort Gallery, Birmingham (February – April)
MK Calling 2020, MK Gallery, Milton Keynes (March)
2019 Live, Laugh, Love, Birmingham School of Art (April)
Leamington OPEN, Leamington Spa Museum & Art Gallery (March)
Co-Op(t), Fargo Village, Coventry (March)
FORM Collective, Format Photography Festival, Derby (March – April)
The Future of the Commons, Artefact, Birmingham (July – August)
Doin’ Bits, WANK Collective, LUVA Gallery, London (September)
2018 Bostin’ Gambol, BCU Degree Show, Birmingham (June)
Crowd Show, NN Contemporary Art Northampton (November)
2017 The King and I, Henry Moore Institute, Leeds (January)
Faculties of Perception, Birmingham City University (March)
Outsider, MK Gallery, Milton Keynes (June)