Vanessa Rolf's work explores maps, journeys, psychogeography, memory, memorial, inheritance, archiving and collections. She references found imagery and text to create layered narratives; this research is sometimes referenced directly but also through intuitive selection of colour, fabric and mark making with stitch.
Vanessa Rolf's work explores maps, journeys, psychogeography, memory, memorial, inheritance, archiving and collections. She references found imagery and text to create layered narratives; this research is sometimes referenced directly but also through intuitive selection of colour, fabric and mark making with stitch.
Honorary Fellow, Royal College of Art
62 Group member since 2016
Qualifications
2011 Post Graduate Certificate in Learning & Teaching, CLTAD, University of the Arts
2004 MA Mixed Media Textiles, Royal College of Art, London
1999 BA Hons Fashion and Textiles, B.I.A.D, University of Central England
Exhibitions
2021 Sleep Diaries 2, TOAST Marylebone, London
2019 Construct, Sunny Bank Mills, West Yorkshire
2019 CTRL/Shift, Centre fro Craft and Design, Sleaford
2018 CTRL/Shift, MAC, Birmingham
2017 Transcriptors: Illustration, Documentary and the Material Exhibition, James Hockey Gallery, University for the Creative Arts, Farnham, Surrey
Stitching stories: Making common ground, City Space, Winchester
Open 2017, Quay Arts, Newport, Isle of Wight
Making Space, 62 Group, Knitting & Stitching Show, Olympia & Edinburgh
2014 Unlocking the diary, Burlington Hotel, Folkestone Fringe
Open Studios, Chocolate Factory, Stoke Newington, London
2013 Open Studios, Chcolate Factory, Stoke Newington, London
2012 The museum for objects of virtu, Abbey Arts Centre, London
Get Carta, Karin Jansenn Project Space, London
Poems to the sea, Prick Your Finger, Bethnal Green, London
2009 Postcards from Canvey Island, Cornelius Vermuyden School, Essex
2008 After Linnaeus , Hillier Gardens, Hampshire 2007
Hidden, Royal College of Art, London
2007 Maps & Legends, Makers' Showcase, firstsite, Colchester
Siberia Series, firstsite, Colchester
2004 Global Positioning System, Bank of America, Canary Wharf, London
Paradise Lost, Forge Mill Needle Museum, Redditch
Employment
2018-21 Engagement Curator, John Hansard Gallery, Southampton
2017 National Saturday Club Co-ordinator, Winchester School of Art
2013 - 15 Lecturer, BA Textile Design, Chelsea College of Art & Design
2005- 2015 ReachOutRCA Project Director – Royal College of Art
2006/7 Stitch Technician – Textiles Dept. Royal College of Art
Selected Teaching & Workshops
2021 Lecturer, BA Textile Design, Winchester School of Art
2021 Lecturer, BA Fine Art, Solent University, Southampton
2017 - 21 Lecturer, MA Textile Design, Winchester School of Art
Workshop leader, City Space, Winchester
National Saturday Club Co-ordinator, Winchester School of Art
2016 Workshop leader, Making Space, Havant, Hampshire
2015 - 20 Lecturer, BA Illustration, University of the Creative Arts, Farnham.
2012 Lecturer, Preparing to teach, Royal College of Art
2011 Speaker, Firing Up Seminar, Crafts Council
Project tutor, Handling Collection, Crafts Council
Project leader, Ignite! Research RCA, Royal College of Art
2010 Workshop leader, Museumaker, University of Nottingham Museum
Workshop leader, ReachOutRCA, Royal College of Art
Workshop leader, Jaywick Martello Tower, Jaywick, Essex
2009 Workshop leader, Cornelius Vermuyden School, Canvey Island, Essex
Workshop leader, Fairhaven Hospice, Essex
2007 Workshop leader, firstsite gallery, Colchester
Workshop leader, Greenwich University
2006 Workshop leader, Charles Edward Brooke School, London
2005 Curator, En Route lectures and walks, Royal College of Art
Workshop leader, ReachOutRCA, Royal College of Art
Lecturer, BA Textiles, Manchester Metropolitan University
Lecturer, BA Textiles, Surrey Institute of Art & Design.
Commissions
2014 WW1 Commemoration, Chatham Historic Dockyard, Kent
2010 Installation and interior textiles, Tapestry, 1771, London
2008 Interior textiles, Ontario Tower, Johnson Naylor Architects, London
Wall pieces and interior textiles, Johnson Naylor Architects, Tudorvale Development.
2007 In the beginning..., Stubbington Methodist Church, Hampshire Projects
2005 En Route: Series of talks and walks on the theme of journeys, Royal College of Art.
2004 The Tundra, Installation Piece, Johnson Naylor Architects, New Providence Wharf.
Collections
2009 GPS, Crafts Coucil Handling Collection, Craft Council
Sandtracks, Crafts Coucil Handling Collection, Craft Council
