Artist’s Bio
Nikkita Morgan is an Irish mixed media textile artist based in Edinburgh. Since moving to Scotland Morgan has completed yearlong artist-in-residency programmes at George Watson’s College and the Edinburgh College of Art. Morgan received her Master’s in Textile Design in 2014 from Norwich University of the Arts and was a recipient of the Arts and Humanity Research Council Award for her course of study (AHRC). Before embarking on postgraduate study, Morgan was an undergraduate student at University of Wales: Trinity Saint David: Coleg Sir Gar studying a BA (Hons) in Textile, Art, Design & Craft (2010-13). On completion of her degree she received the Textile Student of the Year Award. Her numerous group exhibitions include Materials, Meaning & Messages at R-Space Gallery, Lisburn, The SSA 119th Annual Exhibition at The Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh and Art of Craft at The Market Place Gallery, Armagh. Morgan was awarded with the NI Young Artist of the Year Award [runner-up] in 2016.
Education
MA Degree in Textile Design: Norwich University of the Arts (2013-14)
BA (Hons) Degree in Textile, Art, Design, Craft: University of Wales; Trinity Saint David : Coleg Sir Gar (2010-13)
Foundation diploma in Art & Design: Southern Regional Collage (2009-10)
Achievements (Grants, Awards, Residencies)
Highly Commended for series of works: Annual Awards for Art About Big Global Issues or Concerns 2018: Redline Artworks. [Feb 2018]
The Arts Council NI Travel Award Scheme: Travel Award for my Textile Art & Photographic Project: Middle East [2017]
Highly Commended for series of works: Annual Awards for Art About Big Global Issues or Concerns 2017: Redline Artworks. [February 2017]
Guest Studio Residency Program: The Art Cube Artists’ Studio, Jerusalem [Feb 2017]
Artist-in-Residence: George Watson College, Edinburgh [August 2016- August 17]
Gallery Artist-in-Residence (part of A-I-R 15/16 group exhibition): St. Margaret’s House Gallery 1, Edinburgh [August 2016]
NI Young Artist of the Year Runner-up: won a community arts commission from Mid And East Antrim Council taking place in 2017 [2016]
Textile Artist-in-Residence: Edinburgh College of Art [Sep 2015 – Aug 16]
Norfolk Arts Project Fund: Norfolk County Council / Ideastap Wrap-Up Fund Brief / The Split Infinitive Trust Grant [2015] / The Eaton Fund Grant [2014]
Arts and Humanities Research Council Award (AHRC) [2013]
Shortlisted for the Textile Study Group Graduate of the Year Award: New Designers, London. [2013]
Textile Student of the Year Award: University of Wales, Trinity Saint David: Coleg Sir Gar [2013]
Exhibition record
Upcoming:
The Locale Group Exhibition: Glad Cafe, Glasgow
Brexit Means… Solo (Live Art) Exhibition: Roots Gallery, Edinburgh
Current:
RedLine Artworks, Digital Exhibition: Available at: http://www.redlineartworks.org/gallery_532987.html
Past 2017:
The Locale Group Exhibition: Cass Art, Glasgow,
Embroidered Stories: Edinburgh College of Art: University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh
RedLine Artworks, Digital Exhibition: Available at: http://www.redlineartworks.org/gallery_532987.html
Locality Group Exhibition: DOK Artist Space, Edinburgh
Éire Intransition: Solo Exhibition: St. Margaret’s House Gallery 2, Edinburgh [Gallery In-Kind Support]
A-I-R Exhibition: George Watson College, Edinburgh
Guest Studio Residency Solo Exhibition: Art Cube Artist’s Studio’s, Jerusalem
Past 2016:
Materials, Meaning & Messages: R-Space Gallery, Lisburn, Co.Down
The SSA 119th annual exhibition, The Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh
RedLine Artworks, Digital Exhibition: Available at: http://www.redlineartworks.org/gallery_532987.html
The Locale Group Exhibition: The Old Hairdressers, Glasgow
NSK Folk Art Rising 1916-2016: Burren College of Art, Co,Clare
Stitchery; the myriad possibilities of needle & thread: Top Floor Art Gallery, Co, Down
A-I-R 15/16 Exhibition: St. Margaret’s House Gallery 1, Edinburgh
A-I-R 15/16 (Taster) Exhibition: Tent Gallery, Edinburgh College of Art, Edinburgh
Art of Craft Exhibition: Market Place Gallery, Armagh
NI Young Artist of the Year Finalists Exhibition: The Braid Arts Centre, Ballymena
Cause and Effect: Pentland Fine Art Gallery, Aberdeen
2015:
NN Open Exhibition: NN Contmeporary Art Gallery, Northampton
The Gallery Listoke, Winter Exhibition: Drogheda, Ireland
100 under 100, 3rd on 3rd Gallery: Jamestown, New York
Window of Eden: St.Monica’s, Dublin
Artists@WAR digital exhibition: Available at: http://www.galleryELL.com
Platform Open Annual Art Exhibition: Morphets of Harrogate, Yorkshire
The Locale Group Exhibition: McCune Smith Café, Glasgow
Convergence 15: Stew Gallery, Norwich. Supported by Norfolk County Council
River Waveney Sculpture Trail: River Waveney Study Centre, Bungay
Electric Open 2015 Art Exhibition: Electric Picture House, Cheshire
One year on: Stew Gallery, Norwich. Supported by Norfolk County Council
The North and Beyond: Grassington Festival, Yorkshire
Summer Salon 2015: Islington Art Factory, London
Open Weekend: Dove street studios, Norwich
UNA gallery May exhibition: Fabric warehouse, Norwich
Rising Stars 2015 exhibition: New Ashgate Gallery, Farnham
UNA gallery February exhibition: Fabric Warehouse, Norwich
2014:
MA Degree Show: Norwich University of the Arts, Norwich
Place, Space & Negotiated Territories Norwich University of the Arts, Norwich
2013:
New Designers: Islington, London
BA Degree Show: Coleg Sir Gar, Carmarthen
Professional experience
2018:
Edinburgh Research Explorer: Research Assistant for The Needlework Development Scheme (NDS): University of Edinburgh [Jan – Current]
Workshop Assistant: 100 Years Women’s Vote Banner making workshops, teaching embroidery skills to female’s at Contanvale Prison and student and staff members at the University of Edinburgh: Processions: Artichoke. [February – June]
Online Teacher: Planning, organising and teaching mixed-media textile workshops for Chinese children aged 7 – 12: Art+International Art Education Center: China [2015 – May]
Guest Lecturer Tour: Artist Workshops: Ormiston Victory Academy, Wayland Academy, Sprowston Community Academy, The Thetford Academy, City of Norwich School: Organisation: Network for East Anglian Collaborative Outreach: Norfolk. [February – March]
Guest Lecturer Tour: Artist Talk’s: Touring around Norfolk to give Artist Talks to deprived school and college students, helping to promote University education within the Creative Arts industry. Norwich University of the Arts, City College Norwich, East Norfolk Sixth Form College, Sprowston Community Academy, City of Norwich School, The Thetford Academy, IES Breckland, Ormiston Victory Academy, Broadland High School, Hewett Academy Springwood High School, City Academy, Paston Sixth Form College: Organisation: Network for East Anglian Collaborative Outreach: Norfolk. [Janurary – March]
2017:
Edinburgh Research Explorer: Research Assistant: The Needlework Development Scheme (NDS): University of Edinburgh – Roles include: stitch workshops with female prisoners at HM Prison Edinburgh and students at Forrester High School; archiving NDS collection, recording and photographing workshops, writing up stitch sessions, assisting with exhibition set up and event preparation. [Jun – Dec 2017]
Textile Art Community Project (voluntary): Aida Refugee Camp: Bethlehem: Palestine. – Taught groups of non-English speaking children (7-11 year olds), teenagers and women how to express their personal stories through embroidery. Supported by the Arts Council NI Travel Award Scheme. [Oct 2017]
Artist Commission: George Watson’s College. Design & construct an Embroidered Sampler Wall hanging to be used as a learning aid for primary and secondary school pupils.
Artist Talk ‘Conflicting Textiles’: Art Cube Artist’s Studio’s, Jerusalem
2016:
Artist Talk: Materials, Meaning & Messages Exhibition: R-Space Gallery, Lisburn, Co.Down
A-I-R 15/16: Lead artist in co-ordinating, organising & curating A-I-R 15/16 group exhibition
Artist Commission: design & construct campaign banner for Educational Institute of Scotland, commissioned by the Joint Union Liaison Committee at Edinburgh University
Artist Talk: Glasgow Artist Guild, Saramago Café: Glasgow
2015:
Artist Talk: Meet Your Maker, Maklab: Glasgow
Artist Presentation, Edinburgh College of Art, Edinburgh
Guest lecturer, Paston Sixth Form College, Norfolk
Gallery Invigilator, Gallery 133: Yarmouth
One Year On: Symposium Team: part of the selection panel in co-ordinating and organising the exhibition, Norwich.
Artist workshop and volunteer for the Arts Recovery Program, working with vulnerable adults, Thetford. Certificates in: Challenging behaviour and Safeguarding of vulnerable adults.
Waveney & Blyth Arts exhibition planning & management course. Symposium team: helped curate and organise the art sculpture trail: Bungay.
Environment Project Commission: collaborative project working with local artists and scientists from the University of East Angelina to design & construct a 3D info graphic sculpture that represents the storm surge damage surrounding the Norfolk coast: Norwich.
2014:
Dialogues 2014: Space, Place and Negotiated Territories, Symposium Team: part of the selection panel and helped to organise the conference: Norwich University of the Arts.
Wall mural commission: Spurs Restaurant: Newry & Belfast (2007-08)
Publications
Wotisart? #13 Magazine: Featured Artist, April 2018, Available at: http://wotisart.bigcartel.com/product/wotisart-13-april
Average Art Magazine: Featured Artist, April 2018, Available at: http://averagearts.bigcartel.com/product/average-art-21-april
Wotisart? #4 Magazine: Featured Artist, July 2017, Available at: http://wotisart.bigcartel.com/product/wotisart-4-july
Average Art Magazine: Featured Artist, July 2017, Available at: http://averagearts.bigcartel.com/product/average-art-july
A5 Magazine: Featured Artist, June 2017, Available at: http://www.afive.co.uk/
Average Art 8 Magazine: Featured Artist, March 2017, Available at: http://averageart.co.uk/magazine.html
Art Reveal Magazine: 22nd Issue, Artist Interview (page 76-81), November 2016, Available at: http://www.artrevealmagazine.com/22nd-issue/
eSharp issue 24: belonging & inclusion, Spring 2016, Available at: http://www.gla.ac.uk/research/az/esharp/issues/24spring2016-belongingandinclusion/
The Arts Show: Episode 2, Art of Craft Exhibition [Featured Artwork], BBC2 NI (26/05/2016) Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07d3fdd
Window2eden, Embroidered Landscape | Nikkita Morgan, November 2015, Available at: https://windowtoeden.wordpress.com/2015/11/11/embroidered-landscapes-nikkita-morgan/
Little Performance Online Magazine, issues #4, September 2015, Available at: http://www.littleperformance.com/page20.htm
Art Habens Art Review 5th Edition, An Interview with Nikkita Morgan, August 2015, Available at: http://issuu.com/arthabens/docs/art_habens_art_review_specialed.201
