Approved: 21.10.2013

Michelle Abbott

Artist, Consultant, Curator, Maker, Project manager

Approved: 21.10.2013

I have been working with threads in my work for over 15 years after originally being a painter since graduating from the University of Edinburgh/Edinburgh College of Art in 1996. Whilst developing a new body of work which questioned human connections, chance meetings and digital interactions, I felt that paint was the wrong medium and I started using threads as a drawing medium on paper to literally tie connections together. Threads are now my primary medium and I have produced several series’ of works on paper and canvas incorporating non-objective subject matter and abstracted text. In 2011 my paternal family tree was traced back to 1815, all rooted in the East End of London around Bethnal Green and Shoreditch – the weavers and tailors’ quarters of that time. Looking back at my lineage there are generations of tailors, silk winders and haberdashers – I knew nothing of this when I started working with threads. In 2013 I was invited to show a series of these works in a medical centre in Bethnal Green, in conjunction with the Whitechapel Gallery, and an independent gallery in Shoreditch and it felt like a homecoming of sorts. In 2022 I received a DYCP Arts Council award to undertake a period of historical research and work experimentation investigating further into my roots of East End Tailors. I use threads as a drawing medium, sculptural material and colour form and incorporate their symbolism into certain questions based around human connections, domestic bliss and more recently socio-economic divides.

Read more ...

 
 

Artist Statement

I have been working with threads in my work for over 15 years after originally being a painter since graduating from the University of Edinburgh/Edinburgh College of Art in 1996. Whilst developing a new body of work which questioned human connections, chance meetings and digital interactions, I felt that paint was the wrong medium and I started using threads as a drawing medium on paper to literally tie connections together. Threads are now my primary medium and I have produced several series’ of works on paper and canvas incorporating non-objective subject matter and abstracted text. In 2011 my paternal family tree was traced back to 1815, all rooted in the East End of London around Bethnal Green and Shoreditch – the weavers and tailors’ quarters of that time. Looking back at my lineage there are generations of tailors, silk winders and haberdashers – I knew nothing of this when I started working with threads. In 2013 I was invited to show a series of these works in a medical centre in Bethnal Green, in conjunction with the Whitechapel Gallery, and an independent gallery in Shoreditch and it felt like a homecoming of sorts. In 2022 I received a DYCP Arts Council award to undertake a period of historical research and work experimentation investigating further into my roots of East End Tailors. I use threads as a drawing medium, sculptural material and colour form and incorporate their symbolism into certain questions based around human connections, domestic bliss and more recently socio-economic divides.

 

 

 

CV & Education

 

Born 1972, London.

1991 - 1996 MA Fine Art - University of Edinburgh/Edinburgh College of Art   

2000 - present  - Studio member at Phoenix Art Space, Brighton 2000

2022 - Awarded Arts Council DYCP funding 

 

Exhibitions

April 2022 - WRAP space. Group Show, Brighton.

May 2016 - MiY workshop, Brighton.  Solo window exhibition, Brighton Festival.

Feb 2016-17 - Blithale Medical Centre, in conjunction with the Whitechapel                                                          Gallery, London.

Sep 2015 - Brighton Art Fair, Brighton

Dec 2013 - Freeze – Espacio Gallery, London

April 2013 - The Other Art Fair, London

May 2011 - Open Fridge, Brighton

May  2011 - Solo show, Moksha, Brighton

March 2011 - Golden Square, London.

Feb 2011 - Light Bite, Nottingham

Feb 2011 - A New Year Exhibition,  Solo show, Rushtead House, Surrey

Nov 2004 - Brighton Art Fair

Oct 2004 - On Site, Group Show, Phoenix Gallery, Brighton

Sep 2004 - Lewes Art Fair

Feb 2004 - Digital works on show at Mojoe, Brighton

Sep 2003 - FS+RGxM=3, Group Show, O2 Brasserie, London

Oct 2002 - Hang Ten, Group show,  Phoenix Gallery, Brighton

July 2002 - And so on…, Collaborative show, Mojoe, Brighton

March 2000 - Kromatik, Solo show,  Jacs Gallery, London

Oct 1999 - Jam, Group show, Phoenix Gallery, Brighton

Aug 1999 - Undercurrents, 2 person show, Phoenix Gallery, Brighton

May 1999 - TellyOffy, Solo show,  No Man’s An Island, Brighton

March 1999 - Nu - Nu, Solo show, Hawth Theatre, Crawley

June 1996 - Welcome to Shellyland, Degree show, Edinburgh

March 1996 - Young Students, Group show, RSA, Edinburgh

Jan 1996 - Dear Jim..., Installation, La Belle Angele, Edinburgh

Sep 1995 - Shelly and me (I love you with all my art...), London

June 1994 -Summer Show, Vintners Vaults, Edinburgh

Nov 1993 - A Mile of Art, Royal Mile, Edinburgh

Commissions

1996  - present - Completion of over 25 private commissions – painting and                                                              drawing. Works held in private collections in UK, Europe and USA

Dec 97/98/99/03 - Commission of 13 small-scale paper based works for the annual                                                   Williams Lea Desktop Calendar.

Dec 96-July 97 - Corporate painting commission for reception area of Williams Lea                                                 Group Ltd, London.