Statement of Practice
I am a mixed media Irish textile artist currently residing in Edinburgh. My practice delves into religious, political and cultural issues; this is a continuation of my previous BA and MA degree research into these areas.
My current studio project focuses on Brexit and the impacts it will have on Ireland and the UK. As an Irish citizen from the North, Brexit is a major concern, as this may lead to the re-introduction of a hard border between the North and south, which will not only damage the economy and all the peace-building, but it might bring the violence back. These are some of the key questions that continue to inspire and depict my visual response to my subject matter.
For my practice I use a range of textile and non-textile materials, processes and techniques that are selected by relevance, through their relationship to my subject matter, their meaning and how it will be symbolic to the message I want to portray within my work. Materials include: fabric, paper, digital projections, hand & machine embroidery, drawing, laser cutting, screen/mono-printing and fabric & digital manipulation: juxtaposing traditional craft with technology, and consequently introducing new ways of thinking about materials and textiles.
Colour, stitch, texture, research, imagery and text are key elements used within the designing and making of my work: analysing and combining historic techniques with contemporary design ideas to create unique textile artworks. I use needlework to capture intricate stories: emblematically unravelling and re-working aspects of religious, political and cultural issues.
I make my artwork for the public, enabling audiences to grasp my version of politics through the medium of textiles.
Education
MA Degree in Textile Design: Norwich University of the Arts (2013-14)
BA (Hons) Degree in Textile, Art, Design, Craft: University of Wales; Trinity Saint David : Coleg Sir Gar (2010-13)
Foundation diploma in Art & Design: Southern Regional Collage (2009-10)
Grants/Awards
2019
Support for the individual artist programme | Arts Council of NI
Norfolk Arts Project Fund | Norfolk County Council
a-n Artist Bursary recipient | supporting self-determined professional development grant | The Artists Information Company
Highly Commended for series of works | Annual Awards for Art About Big Global Issues or Concerns 2019 | Redline Artworks. [Also attained in 2017 & 2018)
2018
Artist of the month | Axisweb | Available at: https://www.axisweb.org/artist-of-the-month/2018/nikkita-morgan/
2017
Travel Award [Textile Art & Photographic Research Project] | Arts Council of NI
2016
NI Young Artist of the Year Runner-up | Mid And East Antrim Council
2015
Norfolk Arts Project Fund | Norfolk County Council
Ideastap Wrap-Up Fund Brief
Split Infinitive Trust Grant
2014
The Eaton Fund Grant
2013
Arts and Humanities Research Council Award (AHRC)
Shortlisted for the Textile Study Group Graduate of the Year Award | New Designers | London.
Textile Student of the Year Award | University of Wales Trinity Saint David:Coleg Sir Gar
Residencies
International Artist Residency: Collaborative project supported by the Arts Council NI [Upcoming 2020]
International Artists in Residence Programme: Artsland, Fermanagh & Omagh District Council [December 2018, May & September 2019]
(Part of my artist-in-residence programme involves teaching embroidery workshops to primary/secondary school, college students and community groups).
Guest Studio Residency Program: The Art Cube Artists’ Studio’s, Jerusalem [Feb 2017]
Artist-in-Residence: George Watson College, Edinburgh [Aug 2016-Aug17]
(As part of my residency, I helped assist teach the children from primary 4 up to S5, working closely with the staff members to help organise and set up series of workshops/lessons).
Gallery Artist-in-Residence (part of A-I-R 15/16 group exhibition): St.Margaret’s House Gallery 1, Edinburgh [Aug 2016]
Textile Artist-in-Residence: Edinburgh College of Art: Edinburgh [Sep2015-Aug16]
(My roles at ECA included: help assist teach the students in the textile and laser cutter department and to give one-to-one tutorials when needed. I also worked closely with the staff members on various textile projects both in and outside of the university).
Exhibition record
Current:
Macmillan Art Show 2019: Art for a great cause, Apex Hotel, Edinburgh
RedLine Artworks, Digital Exhibition: http://www.redlineartworks.org/gallery_532987.html (2016-17-18-19)
Past 2019:
Out of Sight, Out of Mind exhibition: Summerhall, Edinburgh
Divergent: Anteros Gallery: Norwich (supported by Norfolk County Council)
Open Studio: End of Artist-in-Residence programme: Aughakillymaude Mummers Centre
Anna Cheyne Biennial Award 2019 Exhibition: Island Arts Centre: Lisburn
Between Lands: Whitespace: Edinburgh
Utopias: Upper Church, Summerhall: Edinburgh
1 FT SQ Art Exhibition: Blaney Yoga Centre, Fermanagh
1 FT SQ Art Exhibition: Strule Arts Centre, Omagh
Past 2018:
Out of Sight, Out of Mind exhibition: Summerhall, Edinburgh
Brexit Means… Solo (Interactive) Exhibition: Roots Gallery, Edinburgh
Henry’s Odyssey Fundraising Exhibition, Mandell’s Gallery, Norwich
Macmillan Art Show 2018: Bonhams, Fringe Venue 216, Edinburgh
The Locale Group Exhibition: Glad Cafe, Glasgow
The Locale Group Exhibition: Cass Art, Glasgow,
Past 2017:
Embroidered Stories: Edinburgh College of Art: University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh
Locality Group Exhibition: DOK Artist Space, Edinburgh
Éire Intransition : Solo Exhibition: St. Margaret’s House, Gallery 2, Edinburgh
A-I-R Exhibition: George Watson College, Edinburgh
Guest Studio Residency, Solo Exhibition: Art Cube Artist’s Studio’s, Jerusalem
Past 2016:
Materials, Meaning & Messages: R-Space Gallery, Lisburn, Co.Down
The SSA 119th annual exhibition, The Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh
The Locale Group Exhibition: The Old Hairdressers, Glasgow
NSK Folk Art Rising 1916-2016: Burren College of Art, Co,Clare
Stitchery; the myriad possibilities of needle & thread: Top Floor Art Gallery, Co, Down
A-I-R 15/16 Exhibition: St. Margaret’s House Gallery 1, Edinburgh
A-I-R 15/16 Exhibition: Tent Gallery, Edinburgh College of Art, Edinburgh
Art of Craft Exhibition: Market Place Gallery, Armagh
NI Young Artist of the Year Finalists Exhibition: The Braid Arts Centre, Ballymena
Cause and Effect: Pentland Fine Art Gallery, Aberdeen
2015:
NN Open Exhibition: NN Contmeporary Art Gallery, Northampton
The Gallery Listoke, Winter Exhibition: Drogheda, Ireland
100 under 100, 3rd on 3rd Gallery: Jamestown, New York
Window of Eden: St.Monica’s, Dublin
Artists@WAR digital exhibition: http://www.galleryELL.com
Platform Open Annual Art Exhibition: Morphets of Harrogate, Yorkshire
The Locale Group Exhibition: McCune Smith Café, Glasgow
Convergence 15: Stew Gallery, Norwich. Supported by Norfolk County Council
River Waveney Sculpture Trail: River Waveney Study Centre, Bungay
Electric Open 2015 Art Exhibition: Electric Picture House, Cheshire
One year on: Stew Gallery, Norwich. Supported by Norfolk County Council
The North and Beyond: Grassington Festival, Yorkshire
Summer Salon 2015: Islington Art Factory, London
Open Weekend: Dove street studios, Norwich
UNA gallery May exhibition: Fabric warehouse, Norwich
Rising Stars 2015 exhibition: New Ashgate Gallery, Farnham
UNA gallery February exhibition: Fabric Warehouse, Norwich
2014:
MA Degree Show: Norwich University of the Arts, Norwich
Place, Space & Negotiated Territories Norwich University of the Arts, Norwich
2013:
New Designers: Islington, London
BA Degree Show: Coleg Sir Gar, Carmarthen, Wales
Collections
2017 – Embroidered Sampler Wall-hanging: Art Department: George Watsons College: Edinburgh
Professional experience
2019:
Research Assistant: The Needlework Development Scheme (NDS): University of Edinburgh: Roles include: taught stitch workshops with prisoners at HM Prison Edinburgh; archiving NDS collection, assisting with exhibition set up and event preparation. [Jun 2017 – Current]
Undertook a 3 day Metal Thread Work ‘Queen’s Silk embroidery course: Royal School of Needlework: Glasgow. [June 2019]
Lead Artist: Co-coordinating, organising & curating group exhibitions in Edinburgh & Norwich [Between Lands | Divergent | A-I-R 15/16 | One Year On]. Role included attaining sponsorship and/or funding to support the exhibition. [2015 – Current]
Guest Lecturer Tour: Touring around Norfolk to give artist talks & teach textile workshops to deprived school and college students, helping to promote University education within the Creative Arts: Norwich University of the Arts, City College Norwich, East Norfolk Sixth Form College, Sprowston Community Academy, City of Norwich School, The Thetford Academy, IES Breckland, Ormiston Victory Academy, Broadland High School, Hewett Academy Springwood High School, City Academy, Paston Sixth Form College, Ormiston Victory Academy, Wayland Academy, Organisation: Network for East Anglian Collaborative Outreach: Norfolk. [January 2018 – Ongoing]
Artist Workshops: Part of my artist-in-residence programme, giving artist talks and teaching textile & embroidery workshops to primary, secondary school, college students and community groups (Artsland). [Dec 2018, May & Sep 2019]
2018:
Workshop Assistant: 100 Years Women’s Vote Banner making workshops, teaching embroidery skills to female’s at Contanvale Prison and student and staff members at the University of Edinburgh: Processions: Artichoke. [February – June]
Online Teacher: Planning, organising and teaching mixed-media textile workshops for Chinese children aged 7 - 12: Art+International Art Education Center: China [2015 – May]
2017:
Research Assistant: The Needlework Development Scheme (NDS): University of Edinburgh - Roles include: stitch workshops with female prisoners at HM Prison Edinburgh and students at Forrester High School; archiving NDS collection, recording and photographing workshops, writing up stitch sessions, assisting with exhibition set up and event preparation. [Jun – Dec 2017]
Textile Art Community Project (voluntary) Taught groups of non-English speaking children (7-11 year olds), teenagers and women how to express their personal stories through embroidery. Supported by the Arts Council NI Travel Award Scheme. [Oct 2017]
Artist Commission: George Watson’s College. Design & construct an Embroidered Sampler Wall hanging to be used as a learning aid for primary and secondary school pupils.
Artist Talk ‘Conflicting Textiles’: Art Cube Artist’s Studio’s, Jerusalem
2016:
Artist Talk: Materials, Meaning & Messages Exhibition: R-Space Gallery, Lisburn, Co.Down
A-I-R 15/16: Lead artist in co-ordinating, organising & curating A-I-R 15/16 group exhibition
Artist Commission: design & construct campaign banner for Educational Institute of Scotland, commissioned by the Joint Union Liaison Committee at Edinburgh University
Artist Talk: Glasgow Artist Guild, Saramago Café: Glasgow
2015:
Artist Talk: Meet Your Maker, Maklab: Glasgow
Artist Presentation, Edinburgh College of Art, Edinburgh
Guest lecturer, Paston Sixth Form College, Norfolk
Gallery Invigilator, Gallery 133: Yarmouth
One Year On: Symposium Team: part of the selection panel in co-ordinating and organising the exhibition, Norwich.
Artist workshop and volunteer for the Arts Recovery Program, working with vulnerable adults, Thetford. Certificates in: Challenging behaviourand Safeguarding of vulnerable adults.
Waveney & Blyth Arts exhibition planning & management course. Symposium team: helped curate and organise the art sculpture trail: Bungay.
Environment Project Commission: collaborative project working with local artists and scientists from the University of East Angelina to design & construct a 3D info graphic sculpture that represented the storm surge damage surrounding the Norfolk coast: Norwich.
2014:
Dialogues 2014: Space, Place and Negotiated Territories, Symposium Team: part of the selection panel and helped to organise the conference: Norwich University of the Arts.
Wall mural commission: Spurs Restaurant: Newry & Belfast (2007-08)
Selected Publications
Artist Interview | Floatshowcase | Available at: https://floatshowcase.org/nikkita-morgan | Oct 2019
Art & Politics | Featured exhibition series | Available at: http://www.redlineartworks.org/section652294_361328.html | 2018
Art & Politics | Artist Feature | Available at: https://www.redlineartworks.org/section652294_361328.html | 2017
Artist Interview | Art Reveal Magazine | 22nd Issue | (page 76-81) | Available at: http://www.artrevealmagazine.com/22nd-issue/ | 2016
An Interview with Nikkita Morgan | Art Habens Art Review 5th Edition | page 92-113 | Available at: http://issuu.com/arthabens/docs/art_habens_art_review_specialed.201 | 2015
