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Nancy-Violet Downs lives and works in London within community arts facilitation and as a practicing artist. ​Her practice is multi-disciplinary, spanning textiles, ceramics, writing, participatory performance and video.
My practice explores connection with the land, the cosmos and each other as a means of resistance to oppressive structures. Feminist cosmologies and communities of care inspire world building, creating space for re-enchantment as resistance. ​My research surrounds ancient rituals and ways in which they are imbedded and can be rediscovered, exploring personal and collective narratives. ​Through naïve process and use of earthly materials, we are (re)connecting with playfulness and intuition as a means of empowerment in coming home to ourselves, the land and cosmos.
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Selected Exhibitions
Solo
2024
- room in the bag of stars, The Avenue, Bournemouth, UK (25-30 Apr)
Group
2024
- Portfolio X Windmill Community Gardens, Turner Contemporary, Margate, UK (26 May-4 Sept)
- Degree Show, Arts University Bournemouth, Bournemouth, UK (27 Jun-5 Jul)
- Inno Al Video, Boscombe Arts Depot, Bournemouth, UK (7 Jun)
- Mumasha, a Hunger, an Endless Flow, SuperOtium, Naples, Italy (13 Mar-13 Apr)
- Fibrous Emblematics, TheBug, Poole, UK (12-18 March)
- Showroom LIVE, Avenue Studios, Bournemouth, UK (22 Feb + 7 Mar)
2023
- Showroom LIVE: Cultivate, Avenue Studios, Bournemouth, UK (26 Oct + 23 Nov)
- The Great Sublime, Fox Yard Studio, Stowmarket, UK (22 Sept-12 Oct)
- TheBug Residency Show 2023, TheBug, Poole, UK (25 Sept- 6 Oct)
- Siren Song, Camden Fringe at Little Angel Theatre, London, UK (24-26 Aug)
2022
- Ancient and Unknown, St Nicholas Church, Brockenhurst, UK (7-10 Dec)
- The Open, Turner Contemporary, Margate, UK (21 Oct 2021- 20 Feb 2022)
2021
- Common Ground, Slades Park, Bournemouth, UK (8-11 Dec)
- Ruminate, [online] (11 March)
Publications
- Visualcontainer Vegapunk Videoart Residency Blog, VVV Residency [online] 2024
- Ivanissevich, E. and Hanif, N., Talking Trees, for SPARC. 2021
- Peppl, J. Venice Fellowships Programme Yearbook 2022, for British Council. 2023
Awards and Residencies
- Vegapunk and Visualcontainer VVV-R Video Art Residency with TV (Naples, Italy) 2024
- TheBUG Summer Residency (Bournemouth, UK) 2023
- British Council Fellowship at the Venice Biennale Milk of Dreams (Venice, Italy) 2022
Education Projects
- Outreach and Engagement Researcher, ArtsHead, London, sept 2024-present
- Workshop Assistant for Seaweed Explorations, BSide Festival, aug-sept 2024
- Facilitator of Art Reading and Discussion group, Bournemouth, oct 2023-present
- Technician Demonstrator and Course Assistant for Portfolio Preparation (Fine Art) Short Course at Arts University Bournemouth, jul-aug 2023
- Study exchange at Hongik University, Seoul, South Korea, feb-jun 2023
- Art Assistant at ART-K. mar-jun 2022
- Contributor to Talking Trees 2021
Education
- Fine Art BA (Hons), first class, Arts University Bournemouth, 2024
- Foundation Diploma in Art and Design, Specialising in Fashion and Textiles, 2018
