Approved: 08.10.2006

Gary James Williams

Artist, Consultant, Curator, Lecturer / academic, Researcher

Approved: 08.10.2006

Based in Manchester, working in a broad interdisciplinary practice including painting, sculpture, lens and time-based media, Gary James Williams enquires into the contexts and the creative potentials of coming to terms with the everyday and real-world phenomena in contemporary art practice.

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Merchandise

     

    Artist Statement

    Based in Manchester, working in a broad interdisciplinary practice including painting, sculpture, lens and time-based media, Gary James Williams enquires into the contexts and the creative potentials of coming to terms with the everyday and real-world phenomena in contemporary art practice.

    A continuing methodology in the artist’s practice explores our relationship with the representational, the omnipresent and the fabrication of apparent universalisms in the re-working of familiar cultural imagery. Signifiers become the signified in the approaches and processes of the work, addressing issues of identity and authorship. Here, more formal issues realise a uniqueness and authenticity, revealing a quieter sensitivity of our at times complex relationship with the material and the ephemeral.

    Through research, studio-based practice, and collaboration, Williams intentionally establishes a developing proposition of the viewer and the arena of storytelling. His work defines and recovers an immediacy, finding an opening through the elusive, seductive and sensual world of projection and representation.

    CV & Education

    Qualifications: PGCE HE FE in Art & Design, Walsall School of Education/Wolverhampton School of Painting, Wolverhampton University, UK - 2001. Master of Fine Art, Manchester Metropolitan University UK.-1999.

    Solo Exhibitions

    'In Transience - incidents & interventions...,' NL/UK Touring Exhibition: 2007-2009 - Gallery Oldham, Oldham, UK: 2009, Yorkshire Artspace, Sheffield, UK: 2008, Gallery Forma Aktua, Groningen, NL: 2007. 'Everything Must Go' - Bankley Studios, Manchester, UK: 2003. 'new horizons' - Bankley Gallery, Manchester, UK: 2001. 'Everything & More' - Grosvenor Building, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK: 1999. '24 Hours' - The Mall, Bay Area, San Francisco, USA: 1999. 'Art Tours Programme' - New York City, New York, USA: 1999. 'and the hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world' (commission): Fear & Doubt - ISEA ’98 (International Symposium of Electronic Art) - Holden Gallery.. Manchester Metropolitan University, U.K: 1998. 'Live' - Steim Foundation, Amsterdam. NL: 1996. 'touch me' - Steim Foundation, Amsterdam. NL:1995. 'of what had become a former self' (commission): Visionfest '94 - Cornwallis Building, Liverpool, UK: 1994. 'The Gift' (commission): Visionfest '93 - Dean Walters Building, John Moores University, Liverpool, UK: 1993. 'Essential Structures' - Mass Gallery, Liverpool, UK: 1993.

    Collaborative Projects:

    'Constructing a narrative' (in collaboration with artist/writer Jo Manby) - Manchester Metropolitan University Special Collections, Manchester, UK 2018. 'Pursuing the narrative' (in collaboration with artist/writer Jo Manby) - Bankley Gallery, Manchester, UK: 2011.

    Group Exhibitions

    'Open 2023' - Bury Art Museum & Sculpture Centre, Bury, UK: 2023. '60 Drawings + Ten' - Whitaker Museum & Art Gallery, Rawtenstall UK: 2022. 'Legacy' - Manchester School of Art: Manchester, UK: 2017. 'A6' - PS Mirabel Gallery, Manchester, UK: 2014. 'Mystery Land' - Z-Arts Centre, Manchester, UK: 2012. '60 Drawings' -Bankley Gallery, Manchester, UK: 2012. 'We are all in this together' - Bureau Gallery, Manchester, UK: 2011. 'Deep Fields' - Manchester Architecture Week  - Bankley Gallery, Manchester, UK: 2007. 'All Beginning With…' - Bankley Gallery, Manchester. UK: 2007. 'Food and Drink' - Queen Street Studios Gallery, Belfast, UK: 2006. 'Smallpond Launch Exhibition':- Chorlton Mill, Manchester. UK: 2006. .Arena House Show - Arena House Gallery, Liverpool, UK: 2006. North West Open - Artgene Gallery, Barrow in Furness, UK.: 2005. 'Artist Run'in collaboration with Castlefield Gallery - Bankley Gallery, Manchester.UK: 2003. 'Blind Date' touring exhibition - UC Davis CA, USA/UC Berkeley CA, USA/ Manchester Metropolitan University, UK :1999. '240 & rising' - Righton Gallery. Manchester Metropolitan University, UK: 1999. 'intro': Electronic Cinema, Videopositive ’95 - The Unity Theatre, Liverpool, UK: 1995.

    Curated Projects:

    '60 Drawings + Ten' (in collaboration with Carolyn Curtis Magri & Gaynor Seville)- Whitaker Museum & Art Gallery, Rawtenstall UK: 2022. 'Constructing a narrative' (in collaboration with artist/writer Jo Manby) - Manchester Metropolitan University Special Collections, Manchester, UK 2018. 60 DRAWINGS' (in collaboration with Carolyn Curtis Magri) -Bankley Gallery, Manchester, UK: 2012. 'All Beginning With…' - Bankley Gallery, Manchester. UK. 2007. 'ARTISTS CUT' (in collaboration with Jo Manby) - Bankley Gallery, Manchester, UK: 2006. 'The Secret Garden'  (in collaboration with Emma Long) Bankley Gallery, Manchester, UK: 2004. 'Draw in the Crowds' (in collaboration with Carolyn Curtis-Magri) - Bankley Gallery, Manchester, UK: 2003. 'Phenomena:11 North West artists coming to terms with the everyday' - Bankley Gallery, Manchester, UK: 2001.

    Residencies:

    Artist in Residence: Artist working in a scientific setting - Van Dijk Maxillo Faciaal Tandtecnish Laboratorium, Groningen, NL: 2006. Artist in Residence: Develop series of artist led student paticipatory projects - Stoke on Trent A Level College, UK: 2000. Artist in Residence: Real time video imaging & video generative electronic music (supervised by Steina Vasulka) - Steim Foundation, Amsterdam, NL: 1996. Artist in Residence: Sensorlab network for electronic sensory interaction and the human interface (supervised by Nic Collins & Joel Ryan) - Steim Foundation, Amsterdam, NL: 1995.

    Awards:

    Arts Council of England - Grants for the Arts Individual Award: Residency at and supported by the Van Dijk MFT Laboratorium, Manchester UK/Groningen, NL: 2006. Arts Council of England - Grants for the Arts Organisation Award: to curate ‘Draw in the Crowds’ artist exhibition at Bankley Gallery, Manchester, UK: 2003. Travel Award - Fine Art Department, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK: visiting artist UC Berkeley, California, USA /UC Davis, California USA:1999. Bursary award: to attend the International Symposium of Electronic Art ISEA'98, Liverpool/Manchester, UK. Awarded by ISEA :1998. Bursary Award :Avid non-linear editing, awarded by Liverpool City Council, Mersey Film & Video, North West Arts Board, Liverpool, UK: 1995.  North West Arts Board-Grants for the Arts Individual Award:take up residency at the STEIM Foundation. Amsterdam, NL, Liverpool/Amsterdam:1995. North West Arts Board-Grants for the Arts Individual Award: document exisiting and ongoing work: 1992.

    Publications:  

    'In the requisition of the ephemeral: emerging & evolving' - Phenomena Fine Art Publishing 2021. 'In the requisition of the ephemeral: interventions' - Phenomena Fine Art Publishing 2019.   “I heard him speak another language” - Flux Magazine. UK. 1997.