Julia O’Connell
Artist Statement
I stitch. Whether by hand or machine, stitching is the core process of my practice. Through surface, textures, line and pattern, my work is about people, place and stories shared. I am committed to working more sustainably and all my materials and cloth are ethically sourced and/or gifted from a previous maker. I am a follower of the Slow stitch movement.
Projects/Commissions
2021 Art for The People, Talking Birds, Coventry
2020 Meanwhile exhibition, Shop Front Theatre
2018 Blue, Coventry Open, Herbert Art Gallery
2018 Processions, Imagineer Productions/Artichoke/14-18 NOW
2018 AiR, Heritage Hub, Gloucestershire Archives
2017 WITNESS – AiR – Imagineer Productions, Coventry
2016 Banner maker – Time & Food Unions – The Pod, Coventry
2015 – 17 ‘The Sleeping Place’ – London Road Cemetery
2015 – 16 ‘Small Scale City Skirt’ – Coventry Artspace
2015 ‘The Visible Maker’ – Live craft & theatre performance
2014 AiR, WW1 Commemorations, War Memorial Park, Coventry
2014 ‘Memphis Sphinx’ – Random String/Ludic Rooms
2012 – 14 ‘100’ WW1 installation – Theatre Absolute/Herbert Art Gallery
2009 – 13 AiR, Faculty of Engineering & Comp., Coventry University
2009 – 12 Godiva Awakes, London Olympics 2012, Imagineer
Awards
2021 British Council & City of Culture Trust, Coventry 2021, International Change Maker, Morocco
2015 ACE funding award for The Visible Maker
2015 Recipient of Pluspace Bursary for Artist spaces
2014 Resident Artist bursary – Random String, Ludic Rooms
2013 Recipient of a-n Re:View Bursary for artists
2008 Nominated for the Cecil Angel Cup, Coventry University
2007 Volvo (UK) Art & Design Winner – ‘Liten Resa’ installation and film
Education
2003 – 08 BA (Hons) First Class, Textiles, Faculty of Art & Design, Coventry University
1981 – 85 The Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art, London (Distinction)
Other information
Employers and Public Liability Insured, Designated Premises Supervisor & Personal License holder. Clean driving license/car owner.
Related information
Visiting lecturer – De Montfort University, Leicester, University of Warwick, and Coventry University. Workshop tutor for Slow Stitch, Home Dyeing, and quilt making.
Freelance projects manager and producer for award winning Theatre Absolute, an independent theatre company. Theatre Absolute operates the UK’s first professional Shop Front Theatre in Coventry, West Midlands. Projects managed include socially engaged arts projects, events, and theatre performances. Awards include two Edinburgh Festival Fringe Firsts, a Time Out Best New Play Award and The Olwen Whymark Encouragement For Theatre Writing Award 2021.
Management skills include team management, budgets and monitoring, fundraising, PR, social media, audience development, and volunteers recruitment. Mentor of project management to individual artists and small arts organisations.