Biography
New Zealand born. Lives and works in Norfolk, UK.
gretchen geraets is a visual artist working at the intersection of sculpture and photography. She is interested in the intimacies of personal lived experience, idiosyncratic perception/s of the world and the everyday as erotic. Her practice-based research is informed by feminist through, situated knowledge, temporality, literature and often investigates the role of the hermit in creative practice. She has exhibited in the United Kingdom and internationally.
Currently, gretchen is investigating the productivity of motherhood through practice-based research and developing a new body of work to make visible the productivity of motherhood with support of an Elephant Trust Grant (2021–2022). She will present the first iteration of this research as a solo exhibition 'Mother lode', in November 2022. Concurrently, she is researching unique ways of working with bronze to interweave personal experience/s using her body as material with the support of an Arts Council England DYCP grant (2022) . At 'home', on her ARiM residency, she is exploring the possibilities and politics of exhibiting in personal and domestic space, such as the bedroom and bathroom.
Alongside her practice, gretchen is a Lecturer in Photography (0.4) at Norwich University of the Arts and MA Photography subject leader. She is the co-founder and co-director of artist run spaces Canary Gallery in Auckland and g&A studios in Sydney. She received an MFA Fine Art with Distinction from Goldsmiths, where she was selected for the Kunsthochschule Weißensee/Goldsmiths Exchange Programme. She holds a Bachelor of Visual Arts in Sculpture from Auckland University of Technology.
Forthcoming
Exhibitions:
Solo exhibition, 'Mother lode', Norfolk, UK. November 2022
Research activity:
Research sabbatical, Norwich University of the Arts, UK. October–November 2022
Awards / Grants / Residencies
DYCP Award, Arts Council England, UK. 2022
An Artist Residency in Motherhood (ARiM), UK. 2022
The Elephant Trust Grant, UK. 2021–2022
Participation / Membership
Member, Association of Photographers’ Education Working Group, UK. 2022
Facilitator, Modalities of Care Reading Group, Norwich, UK. 2022
Member, OutPOST, Norwich, UK. 2022
Fellow, The Higher Education Academy, (FHEA), UK. Since 2018
Union Rep, University and College Union (UCU) NUA branch, UK. Since 2018
Member, Human Interfaces Research Group, Norwich University of the Arts, UK. Since 2017
Teaching
Lecturer in Photography, (0.4) Norwich University of the Arts, Norwich, UK. Since January 2017
Subject Leader, MA Photography, Norwich University of the Arts, UK. Since Aug 2018
Previous
Education
Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, Art, Norwich University of the Arts, UK. 2017–2018
MFA Fine Art, with Distinction, Goldsmiths, University of London, UK. 2012–2014Bachelor of Visual Arts in Sculpture, A-, Auckland University of Technology, NZ. 1999–2001
Certificate in Intermediate Studies in Visual Arts, A-, Auckland Institute of Technology, NZ. 1998–1998
Freelands Foundation Emergency Grant, UK. 2020
kunstort ELEVEN residency, Starzach, DE. 2017
LoBe residency, Berlin, DE. 2014
Pan Macmillan Art Space Award, Pan Macmillan Art Space, London, UK (collaboration). 2013–2014
Kunsthochschule Weißensee / Goldsmiths Exchange Programme, Kunsthochschule Weißensee, Berlin, DE and Goldsmiths, London, UK. 2013–2014
Joya: arte + ecología residency, Cortijada Los Gázquez, ES. 2013
Artist run spaces / Contributions to communities
Co-founder and co-director, g&A Studios, Sydney, AU. 2005–2006
Co-founder and co-director, Canary Gallery, Auckland, NZ. 2003–2005
Exhibitions / ...
2022
Outpost Studios Summer Show ’22, Outpost Project Space, Norwich, UK
studioUS, Primeyarc, Great Yarmouth, UK
2021
ARTMATTERS, Art Auction for Headway, Assembly House, Norwich, UK
Studio holder Show '21, OUTPOST Project Space, Norwich, UK
2020
Abs.: kunstortELEVENartspace, Museum Reutlingen, Reutlingen, DE
2019
Multiplicity-Individuality, Human Interfaces Creative Lab (H.I.C.L.), [Online]
Bax, B. (Ed.), Bax, Olivier (Art Editor), 2019. Ambit 235, London [Magazine, Artist Page]
Geraets, J. 2019. Everything's something in place : writings, 1980-2015. Pokeno: Titus Books [Book, Cover Image]
2017
On AiR, Ausstellung im Landratsamt, Tubingen, DE
Artists and Makers of Essex House, Bow Arts, London, UK
2016
ART/Converters! 2016, Studio 1.1, London, UK
Open Studios, Bow Arts, London, UK
2015
Hidden in Plain Sight, The Gallery at NUA, Norwich University of the Arts, Norwich, UK (collaboration)
Open Studios, Bow Arts, Bow Arts Quarter, London, UK
2014
Projekt, Blair Zaye & STS project space, London, UK
The Tomorrow People, selected and curated by Elevator Gallery, London, UK
Goldsmiths MFA Show, Goldsmiths, University of London, London, UK
futures past, LoBe, Berlin, DE
*Student & Recent Graduate Show, Catalyst Arts, Belfast, NI
2013
Pan Macmillan Art Space Award, Pan Macmillan Art Space, London, UK (collaboration)
Long white CLOUD Gallery (rear gallery), London, UK
2012
2x2, Long white CLOUD Gallery, London, UK (collaboration)
Disappearing Act, Long white CLOUD Gallery (rear gallery), London, UK. 2012–2013 (collaboration)
2011
GW: Open Artist Studios, Cell Projects, Grosvenor Works, London, UK
Photomonth East London: International Photography Festival. Blink, Long white CLOUD Gallery, London, UK (collaboration)
INTO THE WILD, Long white CLOUD Gallery, London, UK (collaboration)
The Royal Photographic Society, 153rd International Print Exhibition, touring exhibition, Birmingham Institute of Art & Design, Birmingham, UK and Bonhoga Gallery, Shetland Isles, UK
2010
The Royal Photographic Society, 153rd International Print Exhibition, touring exhibition, Banbury Museum, Oxon, UK; Aberystwyth Arts, Aberystwyth, Wales, UK and Allen & Overy LLP, London, UK
2008
Still Life, A Centre for Art, Auckland, NZ (solo)
2006
Disappearing Act–, g&A Studios, Sydney, AU (collaboration)
Cones of Zontact, Loose Projects, Sydney, AU
Shit Show, g&A Studios, Sydney, AU (collaboration)
The Big Show: 2006 Firstdraft Annual Directors’ Choice Show, Firstdraft Gallery, Sydney, AU
Because You’re Worth It, g&A studios, Sydney, AU
2004 (two person show)
Gretchen Geraets, [Performance], Department of Births Deaths & Marriages, Auckland, NZ (solo)
National Drawing Award, The Physics Room, Christchurch, NZ
National Drawing Award, Artspace, Auckland, NZ
Interrelationships, The Auckland University, Auckland, NZ
New New Zealand Art, MOP Projects, Curated by Ben Curnow. Sydney, AU
Pure Feeling, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, AU (collaboration)
I Think I Can, Canary Gallery, Auckland, NZ
Participation / Reading
Facilitator, Modalities of Care Reading Group, Norwich, UK. 2021–2022
Of Animacy Reading Group: Debility, Capacity, Disability # 3. Convened by Nella Aarne, Curator, Obsidian Coast, UK [online]. 2021
Women’s Critical Reading Group, (Slack Pussy, MayDay Rooms) facilitated by Rosie Higham-Stainton, Norwich, UK. 2019–2020
Senses Gone Awry - Chronic Pain, Bodies, Texts, and Emotions Reading Group, with Dr Alicia Spencer-Hall, Institute of Advanced Studies, UCL, London, UK. 2017
Perversion Reading Group, with Professor Michael Newman, Goldsmiths, UoL, London, UK. 2014
Self-published
g&A studios (Ed.). 2005. Unrealised Projects, Sydney: g&A studios
Curnow, B. (Ed.). 2004. New New Zealand art, New Zealand: Canary Gallery
Archive: Collaborations and commissions:
Image makers, Alan & Gretchen Ltd, et el. Photographic Collaborative, London, UK. 2003–2015
London, UK (2009–2015), New York, USA (2008–2009), Auckland, New Zealand (2003–2004, 2007–2008), Sydney, Australia (2005–2006).
Select Clients: Victoria Tourism, Elephant Family, BMW Magazine, Sony, Volkswagen, Lexus, Nokia, Fiat and Nike.
Font: Franklin Gothic URW Book/Demi
Support using public funding by Arts Council England.