by Gillian Holding
Gillian Holding’s work explores the unremarkable and what happens when nothing is happening; and how where we find ourselves affects our notions, perceptions and assumptions about places, people and identity. The work which results from these wanderings and explorations express the sense of dissonance prompted by glimpses of daily absurdity; effectively they are attempting a re-enchantment of the ordinary which surrounds us.
Pre-artist bio
Prior to making a career as an artist, I practiced as a solicitor for nearly twenty years. I qualified with Linklaters in London, and after working some years in both London and Paris, I joined Booth & Co. (now Addleshaw Goddard) in Leeds, and became an equity partner in the firm.During my legal career, I practiced in an unusually wide number of practice areas, including international finance, litigation and European and competition law. I established and developed the competition law department at Booth & Co., and was the partner responsible for graduate recruitment and management of trainee solicitors over a period of eight years. Whilst working as a lawyer, I was involved in a range of pro-bono activities, mainly as a non-executive board director or trustee for voluntary and charitable organisations, including the Leeds Opp 2K initiative, The Leeds Textile Resource Centre and the Leeds Tapestry 2000 project.
Art Education and awards/prizes
2011 Shortlisted Woolgather Art Prize 2011
2009 Leeds Metropolitan University BA Fine Art (First Class Honours) 2009 Historical & Critical Studies Prize, LMU
2006 OCA Open exhibition, Barnsley, First Prize
2001-5 Open College of the Arts (painting levels 1, 2 and 3 all awarded ‘A’)
Collections
Samir Ceric & Zoe Knight
Leeds Metropolitan University
Solo exhibitions/projects
2012 Westbourne Grove: A Portrit of Everyday, Debut Contemporary Gallery, London 2011 Through the Veil of Orientalism (ed. DisegnoDiverso, Turin, Italy)
2011 Same Difference (Reprise) Etz Chaim Gallery, Middlesex
2011 Action | Reaction G2 Gallery, Solihull
2010 Same Difference South Square, Bradford
2008 Hubris and the City Fine Art Gallery, Leeds Metropolitan University
Group Exhibitions
2013 A Retrospective of Jewish Art , Etz Chaim, Leeds
2013 Art of Angel, Candid Arts, London
2012 The Other Art Fair, London
2012 Olympics Touring Exhibition, cur. Sara Raza
2012 Shift Hundred Years Gallery, Hoxton, London E2, cur. Ana Papoola
2012 Dead of Night, Leeds Light Night
2012 Failure Hundred Years Gallery, Hoxton, London E2, cur. Ana Papoola
2012 Whitecross St Festival, Maison Twenty, London EC2, cur. Danielle Hodson
2012 Regents Canal Festival, The Art Pavilion Mile End, London E3, cur. Maria Teresa Gargozo 2012 Debut Contemporary, Notting Hill, London W2
2011 Headingley Arts Trail, The Bowery, Leeds
2011 On The Edge Arts Festival, Temple Works, Leeds
2011 Copy/Paste, Harehills Business Centre, Leeds
2010 Melange, Leeds Light Night cur, Moira Innes
2010 South Square Salon, South Square Gallery, Bradford
2010 Headingly Arts Trail, The Bowery, Leeds
2009 Monsters in the Dark, cur. Pavilion, Leeds Light Night.
2009 1:58 Leeds Met Arts Festival, Leeds
2007 'Dislocation' Leeds Met Gallery, Leeds
2006 Level One Exhibition, Leeds Met Gallery, Leeds
2001-2006 Various other group shows including Leeds Art Galleries summer exhibitions
Group/Community Projects
Leeds Millenium tapestry project 1994-2004 Wakefield Beam Project 2007
Publications
2012 (in production) Olympics Touring Exhibition catalogue, ed. Sara Raza
2011 Through the Veil of Orientalism (ed. Disegnodiverso, Italy)
2011 The Candle Building (A Visual Gazetteer) Artists' book project by Waymarking, Leeds 2009 Tel Aviv MRJ Siddur
2008 Three Boys Opera North programme