Karen Brett

Contact / CV

Contact: info@karenbrett.com

Find me on Axisweb, Linkedin, Vimeo & Art Photo Index

Education:

  • Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education, 2016.
  • MA in Photography, London College of Communication, 2005.
  • Arts in the Community Development, 2000.
  • Further Adult Education Teaching Certificate, 2000.
  • BA (Hons) Documentary Photography (First Class), 1995-1998, University of Wales, Newport.
  • Foundation Diploma in Photography (Merit) – Filton College, Bristol, 1994 -1995.

Employment:

  • Senior Lecturer – BA Photography, Falmouth University, 2007 – present.
  • Senior Lecturer, Foundation Art & Design, University of Gloucestershire, 2007 – 2008.
  • Visiting Lecturer – BA Documentary Photography, BA Photographic Art, University of Wales, Newport, 2005 – 2007.
  • Part-time Lecturer – AS-Level, Foundation and HND Photography and OCN Photography modules, Filton College, Bristol, Jan 1999 – 2008.
  • Lecturing Documentary Photography, Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff, Jul 2000 – present.
  • Freelance Artist – Bristol Youth Inclusion Project, Barton Hill, Bristol, photographic project concerning the issue of bullying, June – July 2003.
  • Freelance Artist – NESA, North East Somerset Arts, Co-ordinating community photography workshops within Mental Health, April – August 2003.
  • Co-ordinator of Creative Photography workshops, University of Bath, Oct 2000 – 2004.

Selected Exhibitions:

  • Psychological States: ‘Vasa Project’, Online film series entitled ‘Psychological States’ during the months of September, October, November & December 2015.
  • Loose Space: Conversations with Myself, Horses Warped on an Altering Canvas, Group show curated by Claudia Pils, artP.kunstverein, Perchtoldsdorf, Austria. May – June 2015.
  • Elusive:  Conversations with Myself, Group show curated by Sian Bonnell, Camberwell Space, Camberwell College of Arts, London, Feb – March 2011.
  • Creative Voices: Year Two Artist in Residence @ Ysbyty Gwynedd, Gwynedd Museum & Art Gallery, Bangor, April – June 2010.
  • Open West: Conversations with Myself, Group show, Pittville Studios Gallery, Feb – March 2010.
  • Modern Bodies: The Human Figure in the Twentieth Century, The Myth of Sexual Loss, National Museum of Wales, Cardiff, May 2009  -Jan 2010.
  • Creative Voices: Year One Artist in Residence @ Ysbyty Gwynedd, Oriel Pendeitch, Cearnarfon, April –  June 2009.
  • Photomonth in Krakow: The Myth of Sexual Loss, May – June 2008.
  • 3, Converstions with Myself, Picture This, Bristol, March – April 2008.
  • The Sexual Landscape Recast, The Myth of Sexual Loss, Gallery 44, Toronto, June–July 2007.
  • Kiss & Tell, The Myth of Sexual Loss, Group show, The Center for Photography at Woodstock, New York, Jan-March 2007.
  • Conversations with Myself: MA show, London College of Communication, London, Nov-Dec 2005.
  • Le Mois de la Photo a Montreal, The Myth of Sexual Loss, La Centrale, Montreal, Canada, Sept – Oct 2005.
  • East International:The Myth of Sexual Loss, Norwich gallery, Norwich School of Art and Design, July – August 2004.
  • The Home Idea Show, Waiting Rooms, Group show curated by Eshoda Arts, Hotbath Gallery, Bath. March – May 2004.
  • The Myth of Sexual Loss: – Solo exhibition, Ffotogallery @ Turner House, Penarth, Wales. August – September 2003 & Trace, Weymouth, Nov – Dec 2003, Folly gallery, Lancaster, Jan – March 2004 and Michael Tippett Centre March – April 2005.
  • 2gether 4ever: – Touring exhibition sponsored by Lilly ICOS a campaign to promote the sexual rights of older people, Elms Lester Painting rooms, Soho. London,  Nov  2003 and touring.
  • Changes: Memory Palette: Group exhibition, North East Somerset Arts, Radstock Community Centre, Sept 2003.
  • Waiting rooms: Healthcare commission, group exhibition & touring solo exhibition, Bath & Bristol, commencing at the Hotbath gallery, May 2001 – currently touring.
  • In Theory: Self Imprisonment, Group exhibition, BANA artists network, unused building, Bath, May 2001.
  • WEST: Wales 1st Ffotobiennial 2000, 3rd Prize, touring group exhibition – Ffotogallery, Cardiff,  Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea / Aberystwyth Arts Centre / Wrexham Arts Centre – Nov 2000 – Oct 2001.
  • Better Safe than “Sorry “: Community arts solo exhibition, Acorn Theatre,  Penzance, Nov 2000 – Jan 2001.
  • Places of Life:  Self Imprisonment, Group Exhibition, La Cartaia, Prato, Tuscany, April – May 2000.
  • Refuge:  Women’s Aid National Conference. Solo exhibition and workshop, Liverpool University, July 1999.
  • Agoraphobia: Developmental Arts for Mental Health.Group exhibition, Project ability, Glasgow, June-July 1999.

Screenings/Talks:

  • Press Play: Conversations with Myself, Short Film & Video work, curated by Susan Francis, NewRed Studios, June 5th 2015.
  • The Living Image: Still/Moving. Falmouth Flexible Photography Symposium, Falmouth University, Penryn Campus, March 2019.

Commissions & Residencies:

  • Creative Practitioner for The Attune Research Project: Creating a series of photography workshops to enable young people from Cornwall to explore and express their concerns around their mental health. Jan 2022 – April 2023.
  • Filmmaker for Arteffact research project: Filming the progression of artist workshops taking place within the museum environment & the effect it has upon the participants involved.  Oct 2011 – April 2012
  • Artist in Residence at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor: Making work within specific areas of the hospital & community with regard to care of the elderly and mental health. April 2008 – April 2010.
  • The High Life:  Commissioned to work with residents living in high rise flats to create a photographic exhibition. Touring from Oct 2007 onwards @ Wellspring Health Centre, Barton Hill Settlement and Arnofini, Bristol.
  • 2gether 4ever: Touring exhibition sponsored by Lilly ICOS a campaign to promote the sexual rights of older people, Aug 2003 – Sept 2004.
  • Memory Palette:  Commissioned to work with elderly participants in their own homes creating artwork combining the past with the present.  Co-ordinated by NESA – North East Somerset Arts, April – June 2003.
  • Waiting  Rooms:  Artistic interpretation of patients perception of waiting areas within healthcare practices. Jan – March 2001.  Touring exhibition, Bath, Bristol and Wales, 2001 – 2006.
  • Just Another Day:  Recording the events of people for whom the dawning of the millennium was just another day, Great Orme Nursing Home, Llandudno, Dec 1999 – Jan 2000. Touring Group Exhibition, various venues in Wales and Bath, 2000 -2003.

Collections:

  • 20th Century Fine Art Collection: The Myth of Sexual Loss, National Museum of Wales, Cardiff.

Selected Published Work:

  • Photomonth in Krakow 2008: Festival catalogue.
  • Locus Suspectus, Issue 3, Toronto, 2007.
  • Image & Imagination, Le Mois de la Photo a Montreal2005, Festival catalogue.
  • East International, Catalogue, Group show, Norwich Gallery, Norwich, 2004.
  • Nextlevel, Edition 01, Volume 02, London, 2003.
  • WEST, Wales 1st Ffotobiennial, Catalogue, Ffotogallery, Cardiff, 2000.
  • Places of Life, Catalogue, Dryphoto Arte Contemporanea, Tuscany, Italy, 2000.

Awards:

  • Grants for the arts:  Awarded by The Arts Council of England, South West for the development of new work concerning Body Dysmorphic Disorder. August 2006.
  • Small Wonders:   Picture This, Film/Video award for artists, 2004- 07.
  • Awards for Artists:  Awarded by The Arts Council of England, South West for the development of new work concerning Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Feb 2003.
  • Melhuish Fine Art Award:  Awarded by South West Arts for the continuation of personal work  concerning the ageing sexual body, Jan 2001.
  • European Award for women photographers:   1st Prize, Self Imprisonment – Group Exhibition, Prato, Tuscany, April – May 2000.