Olivia Turner is an interdisciplinary artist based in Newcastle upon Tyne. Her diverse practice includes sculpture, drawing, video, printmaking and performance. She is currently undertaking a practice-led PhD at Newcastle University, recipient of the Research Excellence Academy Studentship. Since 2017, she has been working with the Wellcome Trust Centre for Mitochondrial Research. Olivia has been appointed as Lead for the Arts & Medical Research Cluster at Newcastle University.
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
Current
Archival Imaginarium, Thinking Through Things [Online]
Confusion of Tongues, SpeakEasy, AirSpace Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent
The Body, Zest Hall [Online], Round Lemon
2020
O, XL Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne
2019
New Sculpture for 2019, Exhibition, Cheeseburn, Northumberland
2018
Women and Power: Switched on! Shining a light on female innovation, collaborator Dr Pavandeep Rai, Cragside National Trust, Northumberland
Palace of Science, Wylam Brewery, Newcastle upon Tyne
A Seat at the Table, curated by Gayle Meikle, Gallery North, Newcastle upon Tyne
2017
S T R E T C H, Galleri Bokboden, Bergen, Norway
Reality Check, The NewBridge Project, Gateshead
Valence, Vane, Newcastle upon Tyne
BISH, BASH, BOSH, WE ARE THE NORTH, Liverpool
Moving on up, Moving on out, The NewBridge Project, Newcastle upon Tyne
2016
Newcastle University Degree Show, Newcastle University & The Great North Museum, Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle University Degree Show, Copeland Gallery, Peckham, London
Circus Between Worlds, Glasgow International, UK
DECAPOD - AirSpace Gallery 10th Birthday, AirSpace Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent
2015
Art Site, Whitley Bay Film Festival
Invisible Cities, Hatton Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne
If I could sink my teeth into the earth, Ex-Libris Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne
2014
Consuming Spaces, Strømgaten 1 & C. Sundtsgate 15, Bergen, Norway
Urban Art in Context: not cold, Rom8, Bergen, Norway
located, identified and clearly marked. Live Performance, Skottesalen, Bergen, Norway
2013
The Line- Performed, Burned, Folded & Thrown, PH Space, NewBridge Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne
RESIDENCIES
(2017- Ongoing) Wellcome Trust Centre for Mitochondrial Research, Newcastle upon Tyne
(2017) Bones, The Great North Museum, Newcastle upon Tyne
(2016) Pearey House Centre for Visually Impaired, Royal National Institute for Blind People, North Shields
(2015) Residency alongside artists Bridget Kennedy, Mair Hughes and Katie McGown, Ex-Libris Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne
EDUCATION
(2016 - Ongoing) PhD Fine Art, fully funded Research Excellence Academy Studentship, Newcastle University. Supervisors: Katie Cuddon, Dr Ed Juler and Prof Andrew Burton
(2016-2017) Postgraduate Certificate in Research Training, Newcastle University, Distinction with special commendation
(2016-2017) The Collective Studio, The NewBridge Project, Newcastle upon Tyne
(2012-2016) BA Hons Fine Art, Newcastle University, First Class Degree
(2014) Erasmus Exchange, Bergen Academy of Art and Design, Norway
(2010-2011) Foundation Course: Fine Art, Newcastle College
AWARDS and FUNDING
(2021) Thinking Through Things ECR Project Support Grant, Thinking Through Things: Object Encounters in the Medical Humanities
(2019-2021) Wellcome Trust Discretionary Award, Thinking Through Things: Object Encounters in the Medical Humanities
(2019-2021) Wellcome Trust ISSF Small Grant, The Visceral Body in Medicine
(2019-2021) HaSS Research Institutes Awards
(2019) Research Excellence Academy Travel Scholarship, Italy
(2018) EngageFMS & Newcastle University Institute for Creative Arts Practice Award
(2017) Challenge Labs Project Award, The Newcastle University Humanities Research Institute
(2017) Postgraduate Research Teaching Scholarship, Newcastle University
(2017) The Newcastle University Institute for Creative Arts Practice Award
(2016 - 2019) Research Excellence Academy Studentship (REA), fully funded practice-led Fine Art PhD
(2015) The Bartlett Travel Scholarship
(2014) Studentship Prize, Newcastle University
WORKSHOPS
(2019) Patient Day, Crowne Plaza, Newcastle upon Tyne
(2018) Public Engagement in Medical Science, collaboration between Wellcome Trust and National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement, funded participation by Wellcome Trust
(2018) Sculpting our Insides, Lily Foundation Family Weekend, Warwick; sculpture workshop with patients and families affected by mitochondrial disease
(2015) Beyond Frontiers, West Jesmond Primary School; A community engaged project exploring past and present identities and human diversity with the aim of promoting mutual respect and understanding within local communities. Collaboration between Newcastle University’s Archaeology, Classics, History and Fine Art Departments. Using the Shefton Collection as part of a series of workshops at West Jesmond Primary School and the Great North Museum
(2015) ACT 1 ¦ ACT 2, Newcastle University; drawing and performance workshop with Fine Art undergraduate students
(2015) Drawing from Life, Ex-Libris Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne; drawing workshop with Fine Art staff and undergraduate students from Archaeology, History, Fine Art and Medical Science
TALKS AND EVENTS
(2019) Artist Talk, EXPLORE: Lifelong Learning, Newcastle upon Tyne
(2019) Interdisciplinary Conversations Around Making, Symposium, Newcastle University
(2015) If I could Sink My Teeth into the Whole Earth, Chaired debate between Dr Stephen Moonie, Olivia Turner, Bridget Kennedy and Dr Mark Jackson, Ex Libris Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne
TEACHING
(September 2017 – Ongoing) Newcastle University, Fine Art Studio Tutor to 60 first year undergraduate home and international students. Developed and individually led the performance teaching in the Performance and Film making Strand.
(September 2017 – Ongoing) Newcastle University, Fine Art Studio Tutor, frequently offering and requested for one-to-one surgery tutorials with undergraduate students from all year groups. Frequently involved in teaching across a broad range of practices.
(September 2018 – Ongoing) Newcastle University, Fine Art Studio Tutor to 5 fourth year undergraduate students. Module development, teaching and assessment, writing feedback, administrative duties, significant experience with one-to-one and group teaching
(September 2018 – Ongoing) Newcastle University, Fine Art Studio Tutor leading cross-year crit groups of up to undergraduate students from second to fourth year.
(March 2019-2020) Newcastle University, Seminar leader, History, Classics and Archaeology Department. Teaching on the Bodies, Sex and Identities in Classical Greece third year module; looking at innovative and interdisciplinary methodologies in relation to the study of anatomical votives, the body and identity.