Approved: 06.03.2019

Adam Neal

Artist, Film-maker

Archived
Approved: 06.03.2019

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.

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  • Location: Birmingham, West Midlands

Artist Statement

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.  

CV & Education

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)