Alec Stevens
Artist ~ Sculptor ~ Researcher
e: info@alecstevens.co.uk w: www.alecstevens.co.uk
t: UK: 00447546576400
Profile
My work is about revealing a certain playful quality in the daily world around us. I fuse craft practice (in particular, fine wood carving) and fine art ideas to create works which are humorous, revealing and thought-provoking. While exploring concepts, whether linked to a specific historic location or to the urban setting, I use wood and emerging technology to create dramatic experiences that unlock hidden or overlooked narratives.
I have made nine sculptural installations within four National Trust properties; Nymans in Sussex, The Vyne in
Hampshire, Penrhyn Castle in North Wales, and Felbrigg Hall in Norfolk. I have been Artist in Residence within
two of these properties.
I am currently a Resident Artist at the Pervasive Media Studio in Bristol.
I am co-founder of ‘Polari Press’ a queer publication house exploring queer identity, language and culture
through the medium of print, performance and exhibition.
I currently live and work in Bristol where I hold a sculpture workshop within BV Studios.
Selected Exhibitions (full list available on request)
2020
Paradox, London Wetland Centre, 2020-2021. (Residency, Commission / Group)
2019
Perv, Pervasive Media Studio, Bristol, 19th Nov 2019. (Solo)
Perv, ‘Room With A View’ Residency Show, Montmartre, Paris, 2nd Nov 2019. (Solo)
RWA Sculpture Open Exhibition, RWA, Bristol, 16th March - 2 June 2019. (Group)
Anderswo ist Hier: Elsewhere is Here, Centrespace Gallery, Bristol, 8th July - 20th March 2019. (Group)
2018
New York Queer Zine Fair, The Center : LGBT Community Center, New York, 12th-14th October 2018. (Group)
Elsewhere is Here : Anderswo ist Hier, TURBA Gallery, Hanover, Germany, 12th July - 12th August 2018. (Group)
The Paris Ass Book Fair, Palais de Tokyo, Paris, 16th - 18th March 2018. (Group)
Shelves, Cabinets, Closets, practice.gallery, Paris, 15th March 2018. (Group)
New Talent Residency Showcase, Watershed, Bristol, 13th March 2018 (Residency/Group)
2017
The Makers, Felbrigg Hall, Norfolk, 21st April - 30th Oct 2017. (Residency, Commission / Group)
The Paris Ass Book Fair, Arts Factory, Paris, 10th - 12th March 2017. (Group)
2016
Pattern: Found, Exchanged, Unravelled- Bath Art Fringe, Bath, 27th May- 3rd Sept 2016. (Group)
Tall Tales / Tiny Tavern - Royal Tunbridge Wells Museum and Art Gallery, 28th Apr - 3rd Sept 2016. (Residency / Solo
show)
2015
Expressions of Penrhyn Castle- Penrhyn Castle, Bangor, 11th Sept - 16th Oct 2015. (Group)
Leaving Home- CAA Gallery, London, 16th April - 31st May 2015. (Group)
2014
Collaborate- Manchester Craft and Design Centre, Manchester, 17th July-13th Sept 2014. (Group)
Craft Emergency- Aspex Gallery, Portsmouth, 11th Nov- 20th Jan 2014. (Group)
2013
Museum for Neil- Hawson Memorial Winter Residency, Jedburgh, 9th-10th Dec 2013. (Solo & Residency)
Growing- The National Centre for Craft & Design, Sleaford, 20th July- 29th Sept 2013. (Group & Residency)
Unravelling the Vyne- The Vyne House & Gardens, Basingstoke, 28th June- 22nd Dec 2013. (Group & Commission)
2012
Making It!- Winchester Discovery Centre, Winchester, 11th-14th Oct 2012. (Group & Commission)
Unravelling Nymans House- Nymans House, Haywards Heath, 4th May- 31st Oct 2012. (Group & Commission)
Residency
West Dean College Residency - West Dean College - Winchester. 2020
Paradox Artist Residency - London Wetland Centre - London. 2019/2020
Room With A View Residency - Montmartre - Paris, France. 2019
New Talents Residency - Watershed’s Pervasive Media Studio - Bristol. 2018
The National Trust’s Felbrigg Hall Artist in Residence - Norfolk. 2016
Tunbridge Wells Museum and Art Gallery Artist / Writer in Residence - Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent. 2016
The National Trust’s Penrhyn Castle / Arts Council Wales Artists in Residence - Bangor, North Wales. 2015
Timothy Hawson Memorial Winter Residency - Jedburgh, Scotland. 2013
The National Centre for Craft & Design Growing Residency - Sleaford. 2013
Education
3D Materials Practice Ba (Hons), University of Brighton 2008-2011, 2:1
References
Victoria Tillotson, Creative Producer for Watershed, victoria@watershed.co.uk
Sara Roberts, Curator for National Trust and Arts Council of Wales, sara@sara-roberts.com
Workshops, Talks & Performances
The Makers Round Table Discussion, Norwich University of the Arts, Norwich, 2017 (Talk)
How to Carve a Rocket, Men’s Shed, Norwich, 2017 (Workshop)
I am Making Art, Spike Island Gallery, Bristol, 2017 (Workshop)
Tainted Tales, Royal Tunbridge Wells Museum and Art Gallery, 2016 (Performance)
Meet the Makers, CAA Gallery, London. 2015 (Talk)
Publications, Press & Television
2019
ITV Local News Feature, Feb 28th 2019
ITV Artist of the week, Feb 25th 2019
2017
The Times: Photo and Description, April 21st 2017
The Makers: Exhibition Catalogue, April 2017
2013
Crafts Magazine (UK): Issue 244 Sept/Oct 2013. Sara Roberts
Arts Council (UK) Making It Local: what does this mean in the context of contemporary craft? 2013. Dr Julie Brown
Crafts Magazine (UK): Issue 243 July/Aug 2013. Pamela Buxton
House & Garden (UK): July 2013. Jessica Doyle
Making Stories: Retrospective Exhibition Book for Making It!, July 2013. Alice Kettle
Unravelling The Vyne: Exhibition Book, 2013. Jill Seddon
2012
Unravelling Nymans: Exhibition Book, 2012. Geraldine Rudge
AN Magazine (UK): June 2012. Frances Lord
Crafts Magazine (UK): Issue 236, May/June 2012. Teleri Lloyd-Jones
Selvedge Magazine (UK): Issue 46, May/June 2012. Amanda Bright
Craft and Design (UK): Issue 219, Jan/Feb 2012
Prizes & Awards
Shortlisted for Jerwood Makers Prize. 2018
Shortlisted for Perrier-Jouët Arts Salon Prize. 2015
Shortlisted for Craft Emergency Prize, Aspex Gallery. 2013
Commissioners & Collectors
National Trust England & Wales
Unravelled Arts
The National Centre for Craft and
Design
M/M Paris
West Dean Estate
New York’s ICP Museum