Dallas Collins
My art explores the idea of the aftermath of an uncontrolled chaotic event and the post-apocalyptic space that's left behind. The work is an exploration of casting and fluidity of a substance where there is a feeling that matter, while temporarily taking on transient form, is capable of morphing into something else. The order and disorder that's weaved into the work can be read as a manifestation of entropy frozen in a historical state of change. This evidence gives the viewer a sense of wonderment of the things that sometimes reside behind the mirror and not always in front.
Art & science has played an important part within my work whether it’s science fiction or science fact. The idea that artwork is limitless has had a profound interest for me from a very early age.
I’m a collector and over the years I’ve built up a cabinet of curiosities, which contain a host of eclectic items that were given to me or sometimes just caught my eye. The relationships between these objects and the process of making intrigues me; they inform my work in revealing structures that convey these complex feelings. I’ve lived with engineering and technology all my life and transferring these skills into art has played an important part in where I stand today as an artist. Imagination, appearance and experience, all these things make our world and reveal a truly infinite human machine.
Dallas studied sculpture at the RCA from 1999-2001 and specialised in foundry art practice. In direct succession, he worked for the RCA for two more years and taught sculpture in Chelsea, London, Bristol and Cardiff. In 2007 Dallas was short-listed for the Jerwood sculpture prize with his work ‘Sweet’ and In 2008 was commissioned by Barratt homes of Bristol to produce a major large-scale bronze piece ‘Ocular Gate’ for a new Eco housing development near Bristol. Dallas has had numerous exhibitions and shows throughout the UK and abroad and his work is held in several private and public art collections. In 2009 Dallas helped initiated an artist collective; in 2010 the group was short-listed to represent Wales at the 54th Venice Biennale 2011. In 2016 Dallas joined the RWA as a network arist and in 2018 was selected as an academician of the Royal West of England Academy Bristol.
Studio
G12-BV Studios, 37 Philip Street, Bedminster, Bristol, BS3 4DR
Professional Group
2020 Royal West of England appointed Board of Trustees member.
2019 Judge and selector for the Royal West of England Academy RWA 167th Open .
2019 Judge and selector for the Royal West of England Academy RWA Sculpture Open.
2018 Royal West of England Academician and appointed council member.
2018 Member of the Royal Society Of Sculptors. sculptors.org.uk/artists/dallas-collins
2018 Royal West of England Academician. www.rwa.org.uk/artists/dallas-collins
2017 Royal West of England Academy Artist Network Member. www.rwa.org.uk
Education
1999 - 2001 Royal College of Art London. MA Sculpture & Foundry Art Practice.
1996 -1999 Norwich School of Art & Design. BA (Hon) First, Fine Art Sculpture.
1995 -1996 City of Bath College. Fine Art Diploma.
Large Commissions & Group Commissions
2022 - 2023 ‘Creative Journeys’ By Art Acumen on behalf of CEG and EQ Bristol (Venue to be announced shortly)
2010 ‘54th Venice Biennale’ Short-listed to represent Wales in 2011.
2010 ‘Blue Bell Hanger’ St Athen, Cardiff.
http://newbritishart.org/blue-bell-hangar-project/4539034229
http://www.addocreative.com/portfolio/blue-bell-hangar-project/
2008 ‘Ocular Gate’ Barratts ‘Page Court’ Development, Mangotsfield, Bristol.
Solo Show
2018 'Cooking Without Gas...' The Pound Arts Center, Corsham UK. www.poundarts.org.uk
Group Exhibitions
2022 'The Pound Art Open' The Pound Arts Centre, Pound Pill, Corsham UK. www.poundarts.org.uk
2022 'RWA 169th Autumn Exhibition’, Bristol. rwa.org.uk
2022 '1SSUE & Without Borders, International traveling show' Associazone Metaforte, Venice, Italy.
2022 'Fringe Arts Bath & The Bath Open Art Exhibition' 44AD Artspace, Bath.
2022 'Together We Rise' The Royal Society of Sculptors and Chichester Cathedral www.chichester/together-we-rise
2022 'RWA The Kenny Gallery 'This Is Me', Exhibition, Bristol. www.rwa.org.uk/products/this-is-me
2022 '1SSUE & Without Borders, International traveling show' Art & Mind Center, Nagoya, Japan. A&MC
2021 '1SSUE & Without Borders, International traveling show' Art Spot Korin, Kyoto, Japan.
2021 '1SSUE & Without Borders, International traveling show' Swansea,?
2020 'RWA 168th Autumn Exhibition’, Bristol. rwa.org.uk
2020 'RBSA Prize Exhibition' Royal Birmingham Society of Artists, Birmingham.
2020 'Holt Festival' www.holtfestival.org/artprizes/final-shortlisted-artists/
2020 '2017 - 2020 RWA Secret Postcards Auction’, Bristol
2020 'RWA Small Things Bright and Beautiful Exhibition’, Bristol.
2019 'RWA 167th Autumn Exhibition’, Bristol. rwa.org.uk
2019 'Otherworldly' Millfield Sculpture Trail, Street BA16 0YD. atkinsongallery.co.uk
2019 'Elemental Sculpture Park' Cirencester, GL7 6FE. www.elementalsculpturepark.com/
2019 'RWA Sculpture Open Exhibition' Bristol. shop.rwa.org.uk
2019 'RBSA Royal Birmingham Society of Artists Open All Media 2019' www.rbsa.org.uk
2018 'RWA 166th Autumn Exhibition’, Bristol. rwa.org.uk
?2018 'VVM7' Tate Exchange Tate Liverpool www.venicevendingmachine.com
2018 'Otherworldly' Sculpture Garden Burghley House, Lincolnshire. www.burghley.co.uk
?2018 '1SSUE 16' West Wharf Gallery, Cardiff. westwharfgallery.wordpress.com/about/
2018 '2010-1018 BV Open Studios’ Bedminster, Bristol. www.bvstudios.co.uk/
2017 'Black Swan Arts Open' 2 Bridge Street, Frome,Somerset. http://www.blackswan.org.uk/
2017 'RWA Academician Candidate Exhibition' Bristol. www.rwa.org.uk
2017 ‘1999-2017 Secret Post Cards’ RCA, London. http://london.secret.rca.ac.uk/2017/
2017 'Plymouth Contemporary 2017' Peninsula Arts Gallery, Plymouth. www.plymouth.ac.uk
2017 '2010-1017 BV Open Studios’ Bedminster, Bristol. www.bvstudios.co.uk/
2017 'Iron Tribe Symposium' Highlands State University, New Mexico,USA.
ww.nmhu.edu/iron-tribe-2017/
2017 'Centrespace Gallery', Leonard Lane Bristol. www.centrespacegallery.
2016 'WAC' Wells Art Contemporary. The Bishop's Palace, www.wellsartcontemporary.co.uk
2016 'IV VVM'. Kunst Altonale 18, Hamburg, Germany. issuu.com/art-e-motion/docs/vvm4
2016 'Centrespace Gallery'. Leonard Lane, Bristol.
2016 '2015-2016 Secret Post Cards' RCA, Art, Jumeirah. http://dubai.secret.rca.ac.uk/2016/
2016 ‘1999-2016 Secret Post Cards’ RCA, London. http://london.secret.rca.ac.uk
2016 'Humunculus @ Asylum'. Caroline Garden's Chapel, London.
2015 'WAC' Wells Art Contemporary. Wells and Mendip Museum.
2015 'RWA 163rd Autumn Exhibition’, Bristol. rwa.org.uk
2015 'III Venice Vending Machine' part of the 56th Venice Biennale. www.venicevendingmachine3.com/
2015 ’2010-1015 BV Open Studios’ Bedminster, Bristol. http://www.bvstudios.co.uk/
2015 '2015 Secret Post Cards' RCA, Art Dubai, Madinat, Jumeirah.
http://dubai.secret.rca.ac.uk/2015/
2015 ‘1999-2015 Secret Post Cards’ RCA, London.
https://london.secret.rca.ac.uk/2015/
2014 '1SSUE 28' West Wharf Gallery, Jacobs Market, Cardiff.
https://westwharfgallery.wordpress.com/about/
2012 ‘RWA 160th Autumn Exhibition’ Clifton Bristol
2010 'Source Atelier d'art’ Les Thermes, France.
2010 ‘Minescule’ Oblong Gallery, London. www.oblonggallery.com/#/previous/
2010 ‘Blue Bell Hanger’ St Athen, Cardiff.
https://www.a-n.co.uk/events/blue-bell-hanger-project-2010
2009 ‘RWA 157th Autumn Exhibition’ Clifton Bristol
2009 ‘Affordable Art Fair’ Bristol
2008 ‘Affordable’ Art Fair’ Transistor Stand L5, Battersea Park, London
2008 ‘Jerwood Sculpture’ BayArts, Bute Street, Cardiff.
2007 ‘Remnants’ Tactile BOSH, Cardiff
2007 ‘Revalation’ The Paint Works, Bath Road, Bristol.
2007 ‘Jerwood’ Union Street, London (Jerwood Sculpture)
http://www.jerwoodvisualarts.org/exhibitions/jerwood-sculpture-prize-2007/
2006 ‘Giotto’ SBL School, North Street, Oldland Common, Bristol.
2006 ‘Another Product’, The Cornerhouse, Levenshulme, Manchester.
2006 ‘Blackout Arts Tower project’ Tollgate House, Bristol.
2005 ‘Solanum Tuberosum’, Zimmer Stewart Gallery, Arundel, West Sussex.
www.zimmerstewart.co.uk
2005 ‘Iron Tribe’Highlands State University New Mexico, USA. ???????
www.nmhu.edu
2003 ‘Open Sculpture Exhibition’, RWA Clifton Bristol.
2003 ‘The Pride of the Valley sculpture park’ Farnham, Surrey. (Permanent show)
www.thesculpturepark.co.uk
2002 ‘Kells’ Kells Priory, Ireland
2002 ‘Art in the Garden’ Chelsea physic garden, Chelsea, London.
2002 ‘Arcadia in the City’ Marble hill house, Richmond, London.
2002 ‘Differentia’ PM Gallery, Ealing, London.
2001 ‘The Show’, RCA, London.
2000 ‘Baked Alaska’ Pricewaterhousecooper, Atrium Gallery, London.
1999 ‘Grid’, RCA, London.
1999 ‘Art School What’s it all about?’ Norwich, Gallery.
1999 ‘99 c’, Norwich School of Art & Design, Norwich.
Art Employment
2006 Cardiff School of Art and Design, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff.
2006 Sir Bernard Lovell School, Oldland common, Bristol. (Artist in Residence)
2006 University of Wales Institute of Cardiff, Howard Gardens, Cardiff. (Artist in Residence)
2005 The Bristol United Childrens Hospital. Bristol. (Artist in Residence)
2003-05 University of Wales Institute of Cardiff. Howard Gardens, Cardiff. (Part Time Lecturer)
2001-03 Royal College of Art, Howie Street, Battersea, London. (Lecturing Foundry Technician)
2001-03 Heatherley School of Fine Art, Chelsea, London. (Part Time Lecturer in sculpture)
Sponsorship, Awards & Support.
2010 Arts Council of Wales.
www.artswales.org.uk/viewnews.asp?id=1550
2010 Safle ‘Blue Bell Hanger’ Cardiff.
2008 Barratts Homes of Bristol ‘Page Court Development’ (£38’100) Commission in Bristol.
2007 Jerwood Maquette Commission.
http://jerwoodvisualarts.org/3518/Jerwood-Sculpture-Prize-2007/257
2006 South Gloucestershire Council Art Trail.
2005 Bristol United Children’s Hospital.
2002 Glaxco Smith Kline.
2002 English Heritage.
2001 Hedley Foundation Scholarship.
2001 Trident Foam Ltd, Materials sponsorship.
1999 Wellcome Trust Award for Science & Art.