JILL TOWNSLEY
CV and Statement
Jill's work consists of large installations and sculptures, supported by photography, video, drawing and text. The artwork emphasises the act of making, its system or process. Looking beyond the more usual subject or object, towards procedures that oscillate between process as generative and/or degenerative.
‘Townsley, following in the footsteps of [Douglas] Heubler, continues an abstracted yet salient investigation into orders that are at once visual, artistic, social, and intellectual. Her works point toward the system’s totality, and towards the realities of its generative demise.’ (1)
Working in this way raises questions such as: What influences do our culturally agreed procedural systems have on the way we construct or deconstruct our world? More concisely, the work points towards the gap between human processes (systems of research, innovation, and culture), and the tangible impact of those systems on the world around us, including the difficult space between human processes and natures ecology. These questions are especially important today, as we hand over many social and cultural systems to machines, who are much more successful at draconianly applying a process, and then repeating it.
Questioning the underlying logic of a system, has always connected my artwork to scientific enquiry. The sculptures invariably embody scientific and biomimetic structures in their form or image. Consequentially my work has made important connections with scientists and scientific research centres internationally, often collaborating across disciplines, to make new artwork that draws together the science, art, and political community.
1. Harris J (2014) “The ‘Systemic Sublime:’ Autonomy and Reference in Jill Townsley’s Sisyphus”, published in ROTOR Review (2014), University of Huddersfield Press
EDUCATION
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2005-2010 PhD (practice-based) Liverpool University, supported
with a Gladstone Fellowship from Chester University.
1993-1995 MA Sculpture, Royal College of Art
1986-1989 BA (Hon) Embroidery, Manchester Metropolitan
AWARDS & ESTEEM
2023 - 24 Collabouration with Nature: Soverigne House Gallery.
2013 Sisyphus: Huddersfield Art Gallery, Huddersfield
2012 TOIL: Project 4 Gallery, Washington DC, USA
2010 Moments of Repetition: The Nunnery, London
2004 Bristles, Balls and Brass: University of Hertfordshire Gallery
1995 5 Squared: Atrium Gallery, Coopers and Lybrand, London
1994 Eroding Pythagoras: Angel Row Art Gallery, Nottingham
1993 One line and a Diagonal: The Pearooms Gallery, Lincolnshire
1992 Mathematics of the Eye: The Bonington Gallery, Nottingham
2022 - 2025. Artist in Residence at the Centre for Biomimetic Societal Futures, research at the University of Huddersfield
2018 – 2020 Artist Expert to the European Commission
2019 Artist in Residence at the Joint Research Centre, for the EU Commission, Italy
2013 International Press Award: 7th Arte Laguna Prize, Venice Arsenal, Italy
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2020 Plastic Matter: Art and Design Gallery, University of Hertfordshire
2019 - 2020 DATAMI: The Bozar, Centre fro Fine Art, Brussels
2019 Resonance III Festival: JRC Italy, a SciArt and Eu funded project
2019. NTER-SECTION at Market Gallery in Huddersfield
2019 This Land is Our Land, Paper Gallery, Manchester
2018 Place, Space, Action: The Market Gallery, Huddersfield
2015 Carbon Meets Silicon: Oriel Sycharth Gallery, Wrexham
2015 ROTA Thought Positions in Sculpture: Huddersfield Art Gallery
2013 Finalist: 7th International Arte Laguna Prize: Venice Arsenal, Italy
2012 Upcycle: ATHICA: Athens Institute for Contemporary Art, Georgia, USA
2011 Compulsive, Obsessive, Repetitive. Towner Contemporary, Eastbourne
2011 Textures of Time: Frederick Parker Gallery, London
2010 The Plazaprinciple, Leeds
2010 Making and Unmaking, Repair and Repetition: Axis online. Curated: Helen Carnac
2009 Winchester School of Art Research Anthology: Winchester Gallery
2008-09 Second Lives – Remixing the Ordinary, The Museum of Art &. Design, New York
2008 Unnatural Histories: The Nunnery, London
2007 Negotiated Positions: Chester University
2006 The Same Difference: Stark Gallery, London
2005 In-formation: The Foundry Gallery Vault, London
2004 Fantastic Plastic: 20-21 Gallery, Scunthorpe
2003 Venus Sapiens: Luke and A Gallery, London
2003 Mirror II Nature: Mile End Art Pavilion London
2003 Chairman’s Choice: The Nunnery Gallery London
2002 The Chelsea Physic Garden Exhibition London
2000&2002 Art Futures: The Barbican, Contemporary Art Society, London
1999-2001 The Hannah Peschar Sculpture Garden
1997-1998 Free to Move: Birmingham Craft Space, Touring
1997 Exhibition: Addison Wesley Longmans, Harlow
1996 Art at 100: Hammersons, Park Lane, London
1995 Art Marathon (BBC): Derry, Northern Ireland
1995 Chelsea Physic Garden: Summer Exhibition
1995 Paris Selection (RCA): The Mona Bismarck Foundation, Paris
1993-1994 Pan European FLEXIBLE Art: Germany, Holland, England, Poland.
1993 White Form: Turnpike Gallery, Lancashire
1992-1994 Crafts in Performance: Crafts Council Gallery, London & Touring
1989 A.D. Graduate Exhibition: Aram Design Studio’s, London
COLLABORATIONS AND PERFORMANCES
2022 - date. Collaboration with scientists in the Centre for Biomimetic Societal Futures, University of Huddersfield
2021 Collaboration with Nicole Dewandre, (DG EC-CAB) and JRC
2018 - 2019 Collaboration with Carlo Ferigato, researcher in Computer Science, JRC - EU Commission
1996-1997 Art Consultant for Nottingham Natural History Museum
1992 Collaboration with Performance artists, Nottingham
1991-1992 Three Plank Rule: Collaboration & Performance with Risk Dance Co.
TEACHING POSTS
2011 Sculpture: Clifford Chance offices. Washington DC
2011 Sculpture: 'Till Rolls' Towner Contemporary, Eastbourne
(2002-03) Sculpture: Chevron Texaco. Aberdeen
1999 Sculpture: Private collection, Chelsea, London
1998 Short-listed: Sculpture, Rotherham General Hospital
1997 Short-listed: Sculpture, Roles Royce Headquarters, Crew
1996 Short-listed: Sculpture, KPMG Headquarters, London
1996 Sculpture: Wollaton Hall, Nottingham
1990 Sculpture: Albion Wharf Building, Central Manchester
1988 Textile Hanging: Manchester Metropolitan University
1987 Wall Panel: St Mary’s Hospital Manchester
COMMISSIONS
2009 - 2023 Senior Lecturer in Contemporary Art, University of Huddersfield.
2006 - 2009 Lecturer, Winchester School of Art, Southampton University.
1995 - 2006. Lecturer at: Lambeth College, Wandsworth College & Community Education Lewisham.