Chris Alton
My practice spans a range of media and approaches, including; socially engaged projects, video essays, textile banners, and publications. In 2012 I founded English Disco Lovers (EDL), an anti-fascist, pro-disco group. Other projects include; Adam Speaks (With New Mouths) (2017), a neoclassical treehouse commissioned by the National Trust; and What Mortals Henceforth Shall Our Power Adore (2020), a video essay that frames the trident as a symbol of colonial intent. Since 2021, I’ve been working in collaboration with Emily Simpson on a project regarding grief, the absence of language for expressing it, and the creation of public spaces for it to be shared.
Each on my projects addresses an array of interconnected social, political, economic and environmental concerns, including; public space, mythology, soft power, tax avoidance, hierarchies, Britain's colonial history, and climate justice, amongst others.
Education
Syllabus III, Wysing Arts Centre, Eastside Projects, Iniva, New Contemporaries, S1 Artspace, Spike Island and Studio Voltaire, 2017-18
BA (Hons) Fine Art, Middlesex University, 2011-14
Solo/Duo Exhibitions
Grief Must Be Love with Nowhere to Go, Bloc Projects, Sheffield, Mar - May 2024, with Emily Simpson
Tied to Everything Else, Paradise Works, Salford, April - May 2023, curated by Will Marshall
Englishness is a Moving Target, Studio KIND., Braunton, Aug – Sept 2021
Throughout the Fragment of Infinity That We Have Come to Know, The NewBridge Project, Gateshead, Mar – Sept 2020
The Ballad of The White Ship, Serf, Leeds, July 2018, in collaboration with Liam Geary Baulch
the man who moved too far, too fast, Lewisham Arthouse, London, May 2016
Under the Shade I Flourish, xero, kline & coma, London, Mar - Apr 2016
Video Des Monats, Hartware MedienKunstVerein (HMKV), Dortmund, DE, Mar 2016
Outdancing Formations, Edith-Russ-Haus, Oldenburg, DE, Sept – Oct 2015, alongside Marta Popivoda
Group Exhibitions
Unbearable Lightness of Being, Paradise Works, Salford, Sept - Oct 2024, with Emily Simpson
Ventriloquism, The Whitaker Museum & Art Gallery, Rossendale, Aug - Nov 2024
The John Ruskin Prize: Seeing the Unseen, Hearing the Unspoken, Trinity Buoy Wharf, London, Feb 2024
Dining In, The Portico Library, June – Oct 2023, in collaboration with Emily Simpson
Displace, Bloc Projects, Sheffield, Sept 2021, selected by Uthra Rajgopal
Imagens Resolutivas, FIF_BH: Festival Internacional de Fotografia, Palacio das Artes, Belo Horizonte, BR, July - Sept 2021
Plymouth Contemporary, KARST, Plymouth, July – Sept 2021
Reclaim Cultural Surplus, OnCurating Project Space, Zurich, CH, May 2021
Common or Garden, Catalyst Arts, Belfast, Dec 2020 – Jan 2021
25 of 78, Hartware MedienKunstVerein (HMKV), Dortmund, DE, June – Sept 2020
Parade, Broadway Gallery, Letchworth Garden City, Dec 2019 – Feb 2020, curated by Kris Day
Artists & Their Pets, TOMA Project Space, Southend-On-Sea, Dec 2019 – Feb 2020
Millennialism, Paradise Works, Manchester, Oct 2019, curated by Emily Simpson & Will Marshall
For Solidarity, The NewBridge Project, Gateshead, Sept – Nov 2019
Survey, BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead, July - Sept 2019
24th Gabrovo Biennial of Humour and Satire in Art: Dimensions of Publicness, Museum of Humour and Satire, Gabrovo, BG, May - Sept 2019
Survey, Bluecoat, Liverpool, Apr - June 2019
Survey, g39, Cardiff, Feb - Mar 2019
i miss u said the lol cats, oh kay gall, York, Jan - Feb 2019
Bloomberg New Contemporaries, South London Gallery, Dec 2018 - Feb 2019, selected by Benedict Drew, Katy Moran & Keith Piper
Survey, Jerwood Space, London, Oct - Dec 2018, nominated by Andy Holden
Can We Still Be Friends, Guest Projects, London, Aug 2018
Bloomberg New Contemporaries, Liverpool John Moores University (Liverpool Biennial), July - Sept 2018, selected by Benedict Drew, Katy Moran & Keith Piper
MEANWHILE, LOWER.GREEN, Norwich, July 2018
Three Models for Change, Stryx, Birmingham, June 2018
EBC019, East Bristol Contemporary, Bristol, May 2018
more of an avalanche, Wysing Arts Centre, Cambridge, Feb - Apr 2018, as part of Syllabus III
Members' Show 2017, OUTPOST, Norwich, Nov - Dec 2017, selected by Andy Holden
You're Surrounded by Me, Turf Projects, Croydon, July - Sept 2017 (Artist & Curator)
UK Young Artists National Festival, QUAD, Derby, Nov 2016 (Screening)
Of the Sea, The Historic Dockyard, Chatham, May - July 2016, selected by Adam Chodzko, Hannah Conroy, Kathleen Palmer, Victoria Pomery & Nicole Mollet
"it was quick, but fun", Lewisham Arthouse, London, May - June 2016, selected by Jeremy Deller
Loading Mercury with a Pitchfork, Nice Gallery, London, June 2015 (Artist & Curator)
Collyer Bristow Graduate Award and Exhibition 2014, Collyer Bristow Gallery, London, Oct 2014 - Jan 2015
Exuberant Politics, Public Space One, Iowa City, USA, Mar - Apr 2014
Commissions
Window Text, Centre for Contemporary Art, Derry-Londonderry, 2024
Ways to Speak Absence, Manchester Independents, Manchester, 2023
Bloc Billboard, Bloc Projects, Sheffield, 2023, in collaboration with Emily Simpson
Banner Commission: Festival of Culture Peace Walk, In-Situ & Building Bridges, 2022
A Modest Show, Manchester, 2022, in collaboration with Emily Simpson
PRIMEdesign Commission, KARST & Take A Part, Plymouth, 2022
Interruptions: Dark Times Karaoke Club, Holden Gallery, Manchester, 2021-22
Northern Voices, Manchester Collective, 2021
Banner Commission: Aspex at 40, Aspex, Portsmouth, 2021
Small Pleasures Commission, DINA, Sheffield, 2020, in collaboration with Emily Simpson
Centenary Commission, The Penn Club, London, 2019-20
The Billboard Commission, Spit & Sawdust, Cardiff, 2018
Adam Speaks, The National Trust, Croome, 2017, mentored by Hew Locke
Keeley Round, Turf Projects, Croydon, 2016
Awards, Grants & Bursaries
The 6th John Ruskin Prize, 2024 (Shortlisted)
Arts Council National Lottery Project Grant, 2023
a-n Artist Bursary 2022
The Eaton Fund: Grant for Artists 2021
Jerwood Bursary 2020
a-n Artist Bursary 2020
The Next Thing Award 2017, Bury Art Museum & Sculpture Centre (Shortlisted)
Fenton Arts Trust Bursary 2017
Light Eye Mind Graduate Award 2016
A.P.T Graduate Studio Award 2016
Edith-Russ-Haus Award for Emerging Media Artists of the Sparda Bank 2015
Lewisham Arthouse Graduate Studio Award 2015
Collyer Bristow Graduate Award 2014, selected by Emma Dexter
Residencies & Programmes
Work/Leisure_4, Abingdon Studios, Blackpool, Aug - Oct 2024, with Emily Simpson
PROFORMA x Begehungen Residency, Longsight Art Space, Manchester, July – Aug 2022
HOME Artist Film Lab, HOME, Manchester, Feb 2022
SUSTAIN: Artist Digital Exchange, Castlefield Gallery, Manchester & Aarhus Billedkunstcenter, DK, Oct 2021 – Mar 2022
The Faculty North, Heart of Glass, 2021
Making of Us, The Turnpike, Leigh, 2020-21
Link & Shift Residency, Eastside Projects, Nov 2018 - July 2019
Interdisciplinary Residency, Hospitalfield, Arbroath, Nov 2018
Liebermann Villa Emerging Artists Programme, British Council: UK/Germany 2018, Berlin, DE, Oct 2018
Autocentre Summer Academy 2016, HMKV, Dortmund, DE, Aug - Sept 2016, class of Marco Roso (DIS)
Leverhulme Arts Scholarship, Wysing Arts Centre, Cambridge, July - Aug 2015
Into The Wild, Chisenhale Studios, London, Oct - Dec 2014
Talks
Screening & In Conversation, Rame Projects; hosted by Harbour House, Kingsbridge, Nov 2024
Access to Grief, Bloc Projects, Apr 2024, with Emily Simpson and Jhinuk Sarkar
Mental Health for Artists: Burning Out & Figuring Out What Matters, Axisweb, Feb 2024
Green Agendas Symposium, University of Salford, March 2023
Slow Social, Pier Projects, Felixstowe, May 2021
Artist Talk, Catalyst Arts, Belfast, Dec 2020
Artist Talk, The Art House, Worcester, Oct 2019 (University of Worcester & Meadow Arts)
Artist Talk, g39, Cardiff, Feb 2019
The Swarthmore Lecture, Friends House, London, May 2018
On Oblique and Frontal Strategies Symposium, Goldsmiths University, London, Feb 2016
TEDxBrighton: Losing Control, Brighton Dome, Brighton, Oct 2015
Artist Talk, Edith-Russ-Haus, Oldenburg, DE, Sept 2015
Protest Music, The People's History Museum, Manchester, Mar 2015
Play Your Part, The People's History Museum, Manchester, Aug 2014
A New Meaning for Disco Beats, TEDxYouth@Hackney: Fountain of YOUth, Nov 2013
Teaching
Panellist, Future Now, Manchester School of Art (MMU), March 2024
Visiting Artist Lecture, BA Filmmaking, Manchester Metropolitan University (SODA), Oct 2023
Visiting Artist Tutorials, MA Socially Engaged Art & Socially Engaged Photography, University of Salford, Mar 2023
Guest Lecture: Art & Social Change, University of Bath, Nov 2022
Visiting Artist Lecture, UWE, Bristol, Nov 2022
Visiting Artist Lecture, BA & MA Fine Art, Middlesex University, Mar 2022
Programme Coordinator, ebc night school 2022 (online), East Bristol Contemporary, Feb - Mar 2022
Guest Lecture: Art & Social Change, University of Bath, Nov 2021
Visiting Artist Lecture & Tutorials, Department of Art & Performance (BA), Manchester School of Art (MMU), Sept 2021
Visiting Artist Lecture, Postgraduate Programme in Curating, Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK), CH, Jan 2021
Visiting Artist Lecture & Tutorials, BA Fine Art, University of Reading, Dec 2020
Guest Lecture: Art & Social Change, University of Bath, Oct 2020
Visiting Artist, BA Fine Art, Liverpool John Moores University, Mar 2020
Guest Lecture: Researching Social Change, University of Bath, Nov 2019
Visiting Artist Lecture, BA Fine Art, The Art Academy, London, Oct 2019
Visiting Artist Tutorials, BA Fine Art, University of Worcester, Oct 2019
Visiting Artist Lecture & Tutorials, Foundation Art & Design / BA Fine Art, Croydon School of Art, Apr 2019
Visiting Artist Lecture & Tutorials, BA Fine Art, Colchester School of Art, Mar 2019
Visiting Artist Lecture & Tutorials, BA Fine Art, Liverpool John Moores University, Nov 2018
Guest Lecture: Art & Social Change, University of Bath, Oct 2018
Visiting Lecturer, MA Art & Design: Advanced Research, Middlesex University, Mar 2018
Visiting Lecturer, MA Art & Design: Advanced Research, Middlesex University, Feb 2017
Visiting Artist Lecture, BA & MA Fine Art, Middlesex University, London, Oct 2016
Module Leader, BA Fine Art: Formations of Fine Art Practice, Middlesex University, Oct 2016 - May 2017
Workshops
Chopping Club, At The Library, Liverpool, Sept 2024, with Emily Simpson
Hold Space for the Unfixable: Quilting & Conversation about Grief, Paradise Works, Salford, Sept 2024, with Emily Simpson
Artist Workshop: Textiles, 422 Arts, Manchester, Nov 2023, with Emily Simpson
Artist Workshops: Shared Meals, Textile Workshops, Listening Sessions, Bloc Projects, Sheffield, Oct-Dec 2023, with Emily Simpson
Artist Workshops: Banner Making, Longsight Art Space, Manchester, June-July 2023, with Emily Simpson
SPARK #11: The Future is in Your Mouth, Paradise Works, Salford, May 2023
Artist Workshops, Longsight Art Space, Manchester, Mar 2023
Artist Workshop: Practice Mapping, FLAMIN, London, Aug 2022
Have you voice heard: Banner & Placard Making, Royal Academy, London, July 2022
Festival of Culture: Banner Design & Making, In-Situ & Building Bridges, Pendle, May - June 2022
PRIMEdesign: Animation, Sticker Design, Skate Spot Mapping, KARST & Take A Part, Plymouth, Feb - Apr 2022
WARP: One-to-Ones, g39, Cardiff, Sept 2021
Artist Workshop: Banner Making, Studio KIND., Braunton, Aug 2021
Artist Workshop: Practice Mapping, Spike Island, Bristol, July 2021
Plough the Future: Banner Making, The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington, April 2021
Artist Workshops, Postgraduate Programme in Curating, Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK), CH, Mar & Apr 2021
Night School: Ideas Generation, East Bristol Contemporary, Bristol, Feb 2021
Artist workshop: Ideas Generation, STEAMhouse, Birmingham, Feb 2021
Artist workshop: Practice Mapping, STEAMhouse, Birmingham, Feb 2021
Artist Workshop: Practice Mapping & Ideas Generation, Syllabus V, hosted by Wysing Arts Centre, Dec 2020
Hope Streets Workshop: Banner Making, Blaze Arts, hosted by Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester, Jan 2020
Social Practice Forum: Ideas Generation, The NewBridge Project, Gateshead, Nov 2019
Rise Up! Artist Workshop: Future Cities, The Bluecoat, Liverpool, Aug 2019
Link & Shift, Meriden Adventure Playground & Three Trees Community Centre, Birmingham, Apr - July 2019
Night School: Ideas Generation, East Bristol Contemporary, hosted by Arnolfini, Bristol, Mar 2019
Sunday Spot Workshops: Future Cities, South London Gallery, Mar 2019
Sunday Spot Workshops: Placard Making, South London Gallery, Feb 2019
Schools’ Programme Workshops: Banner Making, South London Gallery, Jan 2019
Circuit Programme: Zine Making, Wysing Arts Centre, Cambridge, Mar & May 2018
Adam Speaks, National Trust, Croome, June - Sept 2017
Stones of Croydon: Thornton Heath Pond, Drawing Tour, Turf Projects, Croydon, July 2016
Stones of Croydon: Thornton Heath Clocktower, Drawing Tour, Turf Projects, Croydon, May 2016
Artist Lunchtime Feedback, Turf Projects, Croydon, Feb 2016
Stones of Croydon: Thornton Heath Library, Drawing Tour, Turf Projects, Croydon, July 2015
Publications
HMKV Videos des Monats 2014-2020, Exhibition Catalogue, 2020
Survey, Jerwood Space, Exhibition Catalogue, 2018
Bloomberg New Contemporaries 2018, Exhibition Catalogue, 2018
Chris Alton: Changing Ourselves, Changing the World, published by Quaker Books, 2018
The Catlin Guide 2015
Press & Interviews
White Devil, Episode 6: The Long Shadow, Campside Media, hosted by Josh Dean, 27/05/2024
BBC Radio Sheffield, interviewed by Paulette Edwards, 01/05/2024
BBC Radio Sheffield, interviewed by Paulette Edwards, 18/04/2024
Grief Must Be Love with Nowhere to Go: In Conversation with Emily Simpson and Chris Alton, Amelia Crouch, Corridor8, 11/03/2024
Chris Alton: Throughout the Fragment of Infinity That We Have Come to Know, Lesley Guy, Corridor8, 03/2020
Parade, Sara Makari-Aghdam, thisistomorrow, 21/01/2020
Dissenting Voices, Disobedient Gestures, Iris Aspinall Priest, Jerwood Arts, 09/2019
“A showcase and a kind of challenge” Survey: Reviewed, Mike Pinnington, The Double Negative, 23/06/2019
Bloomberg New Contemporaries review, Matthew Collings, London Evening Standard, 04/12/2018
London’s emerging artists at Jerwood, George Vasey, Burlington Contemporary, 07/11/2018
Brighton Photo Fringe: Chris Alton, interview by Idil Bozkurt, 22/10/2018
Young Artists in Conversation: Chris Alton, interview by Harry Meadley, 10/2018
Chris Alton & Liam Geary Baulch: The Ballad of The White Ship, Saffron Ward, Corridor8, 13/08/2018
Feature: Crudely Plucking the Strings, CCQ Magazine, Issue 15, 08/2018
Ey Up: Chris Alton, Harry Meadley, 09/07/2018
Review of MEANWHILE, LOWER.GREEN, Norwich, Sarah Lowndes, Enclave Review, 07/2018
The Swarthmore lecturer interview: Chris Alton, Ian Kirk-Smith, The Friend, 03/04/2018
Chris Alton: ‘By bringing different artists together...’, Hatty Nestor, Studio International, 07/09/2017
Disco isn't dead..., Max de Haldevang, Quartz, 23/08/2017
Exciting young British artists to look out for in 2017, Jessie Thompson, London Evening Standard, 16/02/2017
An Unknown Rhythm 'n' Blues Band Called Trident, Resonance FM, London, 04/2016
Meeting the Founder of the EDL, Régine Debatty, We Make Money Not Art, 24/12/2014
We support the EDL..., Oli Keens, Time Out London, 02/07/2013
International Disco Latin, Hito Steyerl, e-flux, 05/2013
How to disco dance the EDL off Google and Facebook, Dorian Lynskey, The Guardian, 01/02/2013
Collections
London College of Communication (LCC), Special Collection
The Portico Library, Manchester
Private Collections (UK, USA, Germany)
