Robert Foster
Cambridge
I am an artist working in methods such as ceramics, performance and printmaking to explore our experience of the spiritual. I am a studio holder at Wysing Arts Centre, Bourn.
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My practice traverses different disciplines to explore spiritual experience through our interaction with art objects or gestures.
The resulting works bring together imagery, symbols, and narratives, with prompts for the viewer to make their own connections and interpretations. I am intrigued by the latent potential of the viewers’ imagination and how this completes the work, seeking to ask questions, invite participation and offer a chance for reflection.
I am fascinated by historical modes of productions that have strong connections with spirituality and the search for meaning. These include calligraphy, paper marbling and ceramics, methods that resonate with me for the ability to still the mind, provide space for contemplation and offer a glimpse of the beauty of the absolute or unknown.
Often my outcomes combine text, object and image in an assemblage, installation or performance that draws upon modes of presentation that allude to votive objects, rituals, and the sacred, incorporating signs, symbols and gestures that evoke a vision of the importance of art in relation to our search for meaning.
Residencies
2021
SSW Summer Residency, Scottish Sculpture Workshop, Lumsden, Scotland
2019
Home Residency, New York, USA
2017
Jodhpur Art Residency, Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur, India
2016
Artist in Residence, Gamli Skóli, Hrísey, Iceland
Artist in Residence, Roaming Room, London, UK
Crypt Residency, The Crypt Gallery, London, UK
2014
The Old School Residence, Gorna Lipnitsa, Bulgaria
Collaborations
2019
Uptown Grandscale: Mural Collaboration with Jess Rolls, Uptown Grand Central, New York, USA
2016
Readings: A collaboration with Diana Granger-Taylor, Horizon, Roaming Room, UK
2014
Last Days Of The Office, SLAPover, SLAP, York, UK
Solo Exhibitions
2021
An echo imprinted, Test Space: Wysing Arts Centre, Bourn, UK
2017
Solve et Coagula, Test Space, Spike Island, Bristol, UK
2016
Horizon, Roaming Room, London, UK
Truth Immaterial, The Crypt Gallery, London, UK
These Thoughts Form Between Us, NN Contemporary Art Project Space, NN Contemporary Art, Northampton, UK
Group Exhibitions
2023
Curwen Print Members Exhibition, Curwen Print Study Centre, Great Thurlow, UK
2022
Bankley: 30 Years of Artist Led, Bankley Studios + Gallery, Manchester, UK
2020
Interesting Times In Venice, London Metropolitan University, London, UK
something orange... (online exhibition), Test Space, Spike Island, Bristol, UK
The Cambridge Wide Open, Lion Yard Shopping Centre, Cambridge, UK
2019
Alpha - Theta, The Old Biscuit Factory, London, UK
2018
Secret Postcard Exhibition, Gerald Moore Gallery, London, UK
Test Space International at Manifesta 12, Santa Croce, Modica and Graniti, Sicily, Italy
Enshrine, The Crypt Gallery, London, UK
2017
Grenada Contemporary, Susan Mains Gallery, Grand Anse, Grenada
Creekside Open: Selected by Jordan Baseman, A.P.T Gallery, London, UK
May Day May Day All Works Will Be Shown, Test Space, Spike Island, Bristol, UK
Supermarket Art Fair, Svarta Huset, Stockholm, Sweden
2016
The Land of the Endless August, Old School Residence, Gorna Lipnitsa, Bulgaria
2015
Live and Loud, Selfridges & Co, Birmingham, UK
In Vain, Unit 8, Brighton, UK
+Performance, Guest Projects, London, UK
The Nottingham Interlude, Surface Gallery, Nottingham, UK
2014
SLAPover, SLAP, York, UK
Exchange Rates, Brooklyn Fireproof, New York, USA
Star Rituals, Taralej, Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria
Star Rituals, Old School Residence, Gorna Lipnitsa, Bulgaria
FLAT_PAK, Toast, Manchester, UK
Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep, The Old Stable Block, Worksop, UK
Pure Performance, Trispace Gallery, London, UK
Spike Island Open, Spike Island, Bristol, UK
Monument, FRAC Basse-Normandie, Caen, France
2013
Spike Island Open, Spike Island, Bristol, UK
30 Kilos Of Cocaine Used To Draw The Lines Of A Football Field, 20/22 Nq, Manchester, UK
2012
Videoholica, Archeological Museum, Varna, Bulgaria
Party Time Returns!, Antwerp Mansion, Manchester, UK
2011
Party Time, Antwerp Mansion, Manchester, UK
Exeter Contemporary Open, Exeter Phoenix, Exeter, UK
'poolside emergency, The Bluecoat, Liverpool, UK
Non-Permanent, Holden Gallery, Manchester, UK
2010
Mixed 10, See Gallery, Crawshawbooth, UK
Non-Permanent, Stellwerk, Kassel, Germany
In The Round, The NewBridge Project, Newcastle, UK
In The Round, Piccadilly Place, Manchester, UK
Performance
2021
In memoriam, Test Space: Wysing Arts Centre, Bourn, UK
2017
Truth Immaterial: An introduction to Alchemy; the history, methodology and practice of 'The Great Work', Solve et Coagula, Test Space, Spike Island, Bristol, UK
2016
Let the light in: An introduction to Sirius Returns, its key ideas and KH's path to spiritual awakening, Crypt Residency, The Crypt Gallery, London, UK
Let the light in: An introduction to Sirius Returns, its key ideas and KH's path to spiritual awakening, These Thoughts Form Between Us, NN Contemporary Art Project Space, Northampton, UK
2015
S'oddsanctum, Laines Open Day, Laines Farm, Cuckfield, UK
Echoes, Just Because, Mini Mart, London, UK
Fool's Game, Haphazard, Z-Arts, Manchester, UK
2014
Bonehead, A Platform, Hackney Wicked, London, UK
What Remains, Sankofa! Festival, Queen Mary University, London, UK
Beyond a Joke, Spontaneous Combustion Festival, Arebyte, London, UK
Prank, Fringe Arts Bath, Bath, UK
2013
The Judgment, Ceri Hand Gallery Summer Fete, Ceri Hand Gallery, London, UK
Spectre, Spike Open 2013, Spike Island, Bristol, UK
Bucket Dance, Haphazard, Z-Arts, Manchester, UK
Pratfall, M1 Singapore Fringe Festival, National Museum Of Singapore, Singapore
2012
Welcome, Compass, Ayscoughfee Hall, Spalding, UK
Stand For Something, Future Now, Hotspur House, Manchester, UK
2011
Krapp Slapstick, Manchester Art Crawl, Manchester, UK
Screenings
2014
GNARL Fest, Lincoln Performing Arts Centre, Lincoln, UK
2013
Axisweb Screening, The Art Party Conference, The Spa, Scarborough, UK
2012
S1 Salon, S1 Artspace, Sheffield, UK
Awards
2023
a-n Artists Bursaries 2022-23 recipient
2022
British Ceramics Biennale Talent Development Programme
2019
Steward Research Fellowship, Awarded by The British Council, Venice Biennale 2019
2015
Selected for Testing Ground: Masterclass, Zabludowicz Collection, London, UK
2011
Prizewinner, Exeter Contemporary Open, Exeter Phoenix, Exeter, UK
Qualifications
2011
BA (Hons) Fine Art, 1st Class, Manchester Metropolitan University
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