Jo Ray
Jo Ray is based in Sheffield, UK. Her practices explore the interplay between imagined possibilities and lived experience, typically through lens based works, performance and installations responding to social and spatial situations, found imagery, text and archive material.
Her current research explores encounters with models and 'modelness'. She has recently undertaken residencies in the autonomous township Christiania in Copenhagen and a Model Railway Enthusiasts club in Sheffield.
Artist, Art and Design educator, Researcher.
Programme lead MA/MDes Design at the University of Derby
Qualifications / Training
2014 - 2020 Doctoral study: Exploring the Potential of Re-activating Models Through Art Practice'
2005 - 07 PCGE Post 16 Education, University of Hull
2000 - 02 MFA Fine Art Media, The Slade School of Art, University College London,
1997 - 2000 Hull School of Art and Design, BA (Hons) Fine Art (first class)
1996 – 1997 BTEC Foundation Art and Design
Selected Exhibitions
2018 Dystopia and Resistance, Futurecades, Festival of the Mind, Millenium Galleries Sheffield.
2016 Testing, Testing SIA Gallery, Sheffield
2015 The Hepworth Print Fair The Hepworth, Wakefield
2015 Pages International Artists Book Fair. The Tetley, Leeds
2014 Seldom Seen Boone’s Chapel, Lewisham
2014 Seldom Seen Art Gene Gallery and Studios, Barrow in Furness
2013 Uncle Vern’s Dog Gallery North, Northumbria University, Newcastle Upon Tyne
2012 Magnificent Distance exhibition and critical dialogue event, Globe Gallery, Newcastle
2009 My Spectacles (solo show) DLI Gallery, Aykley Heads, Durham
Site Responsive Projects
2014 On the Endless Here Gallery Eleven, Hull
2012 Spoken For public realm commission Washington DC, The 5x5 Project, D.C Commission on the Arts, Grit & Pearl. Part of Magnificent Distance curated by Richard Hollinshead. Magnificent Distance publication
2011 A Common Treasury South Shields Seafront Interpretation and Engagement. Grit & Pearl / South Tyneside Council So. Shields Publication
2011 Lost Languages (ship forks & sema-forks) South Shields Seafront Interpretation & Engagement. Grit & Pearl / South Tyneside Council
2009 Broken Watch, temporary public realm commission, Northcabin, Bristol
2009 Stand By, temporary public realm commission, Gateshead Riverside Park, Rednile Projects / Gateshead Council
2004 Turn Over, heritage interpretation commission, animation and mutoscope, Woodhorn colliery Museum / Inspire Wansbeck
Residencies
2018 Interuppteur (participant with lead artist Rachel Smith) Sheffield University
2017 Research residency at Sheffield Model Rail Enthusiasts Club
2016 CRiR (Christiania Researcher in Residence) July-August 2016 and October 2014)
2014 Reports on Knowledge. Library Interventions, Leeds College of Art (as an ‘agent’ on behalf of Dr Sharon Kivland)
2015 So. Shields; South Shields Seafront Interpretation and Engagement, Grit & Pearl / South Tyneside Council
2008 The Final Frontier, residency in the Teams Valley, Gateshead for Rednile Projects / Gateshead Council
2008 Open Studios Residency, Skolska 28, Prague
2004 AA2A Artists Access to Artschools, University of Lincoln
Curatorial Projects
2015 What’s to Hand, SIA Gallery, Sheffield
2013 Seldom Seen, heritage interpretation for the Ship Inn, Piel Island. Collaboration with Art Gene, Associates, Barrow in Furness.
2010 Your Future Needs You, Art Gene Gallery, Barrow in Furness. (co-curated with Maddi Nicholson and Stuart Bastik)
Awards
2014 Vice Chancellor’s PhD Scholarship, Sheffield Hallam University,
2013 Arts Council England Grants for the Arts Award
2004 Arts Council England Grants for the Arts Award
2002 Julian Sullivan Award for Fine Art Media, Slade School of Art
2000 AHRC postgraduate award
Artist talks / visiting lectures
2012 Visiting tutor, Corcoran Institute, Washington DC. 2009
2009 Talk for professional development programme, Xsite Architecture, Newcastle
2009 Artists Talk about Northcabin commission ‘Broken Watch’, Spike Islan, Bristol
2008 Visiting lecturer, University of Cumbria, Carlisle
2006 Visiting lecturer, Leeds Met University