Studio grant holder in Stockholm 4 June – 29 August 2022

Neil Brownsword is an artist, researcher and educator who holds professorial positions in ceramics at Staffordshire University and University of Bergen, Norway. He began his career in ceramics as an apprentice in the mid-1980s at the Wedgwood factory. His practice examines the legacy of globalisation in relation to Stoke-on-Trent’s ceramic manufacturing sector, and the impact this has had upon people, place and traditional skills. Using film, performance and installation, he deconstructs complex craft knowledge within industrial production to pose questions surrounding the value of inter-generational skills.

Photo: Neil Brownsword

His work is represented in public/private collections internationally, including the Victoria and Albert Museum, Korea Ceramic Foundation, Yingee Ceramic Museum Taiwan and Fu Le International Ceramic Art Museum China. Neil Brownsword has been the recipient of numerous international accolades, including the Whitegold International Ceramic Prize (2020); the Grand Prize at the Gyeonggi International Ceramic Biennale, South Korea (2015), and the One Off Award at the inaugural British Ceramic Biennial (2009). He was also one of twelve finalists shortlisted for the 2017 Woman’s Hour Craft Prize, held in collaboration with BBC Radio 4, the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Crafts Council.