Nikkita Morgan is an Irish mixed media textile artist who predominantly works in her studio using a diverse range of art, design & craft methods. Alongside her creative practice, she teaches textile & embroidery workshops for school, college and university students, vulnerable adults and community groups nationally.
She 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.
Education
Masters Degree in Textile Design | Norwich University of the Arts | Norwich | 2013-14
BA (Hons) Degree in Textile, Art, Design & Craft | University of Wales: Trinity Saint David: Coleg Sir Gar | Carmarthen | 2010-13
Foundation diploma in Art & Design | Southern Regional Collage | Newry | 2009-10
Grants/Awards
a-n Artist Bursary recipient | Time Space Money | The Artists Information Company | 2020
VACMA | Edinburgh Craft Makers Award | Edinburgh City Council & Creative Scotland | 2020
Highly Commended for series of works | Annual Awards for Art About Big Global Issues or Concerns 2020 | Redline Artworks | Also attained in 2017, 2018 & 2019
Support for the individual artist programme | Arts Council of NI | 2019 (recalled due to being unable to undertake my postponed International Artist Residency programme before March 2021 – in relation to Covid restrictions)
Norfolk Arts Project Fund | Norfolk County Council | 2019
a-n Artist Bursary recipient | supporting self-determined professional development grant | The Artists Information Company | 2019
Artist of the month | Axisweb | July 2018
Travel Award | Arts Council of NI | 2017
NI Young Artist of the Year Runner-up | Mid And East Antrim Council | 2016
Norfolk Arts Project Fund – Norfolk County Council | Ideastap Wrap-Up Fund Brief | 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
Residencies
International Artists in Residence Programme | Artsland | Fermanagh & Omagh District Council | Dec 2018, May & Sep 2019
Guest Studio Residency Programme | The Art Cube Artists’ Studio’s | Jerusalem | Feb 2017
Artist-in-Residence | George Watson College | Edinburgh | Aug 2016 – Aug 2017
Gallery Artist-in-Residence | St.Margaret’s House Gallery 1 | Edinburgh | Aug 2016
Textile Artist-in-Residence | Edinburgh College of Art | Edinburgh | Sep 2015 – Aug 2016
Selected Exhibitions
Current
RedLine Artworks | Digital Exhibition | Available at: http://www.redlineartworks.org/gallery_532987.html | 2016-2020
2019
Divergent | Anteros Gallery | Norwich (Matched funded by the Norfolk Arts Project Fund and Crowdfunder)
Open Studio | End of Artist-in-Residence programme | Aughakillymaude Mummers Centre | Fermanagh
Anna Cheyne Biennial Award 2019 Exhibition | Island Arts Centre | Lisburn
Between Lands | Whitespace Gallery | Edinburgh (Attained Kickstater funding)
1 FT SQ Art Exhibition | Strule Arts Centre | Omagh & Blaney Yoga Centre | Fermanagh
2018
Brexit Respond… (Interactive Exhibition) | Roots Gallery | Edinburgh | Solo
Henry’s Odyssey Fundraising Exhibition | Mandell’s Gallery | Norwich
The Locale Group Exhibition | Cass Art | Glasgow
2017
Éire Intransition | St. Margaret’s House Gallery 2 | Edinburgh [Gallery In-Kind Support] | Solo
End of artist-in-residence Exhibition | George Watson College | Edinburgh
Guest Studio Residency Exhibition | Art Cube Artist’s Studio’s | Jerusalem | Solo
2016
Materials, Meaning & Messages | R-Space Gallery | Lisburn | Co.Down
The SSA 119th annual exhibition | The Royal Scottish Academy | Edinburgh
NSK Folk Art Rising 1916-2016 | Burren College of Art | Co,Clare
A-I-R 15/16 Exhibition | Tent Gallery & St. Margaret’s House Gallery 1 | Edinburgh
Art of Craft Exhibition | Market Place Gallery | Armagh
NI Young Artist of the Year Finalists Exhibition | The Braid Arts Centre | Ballymena
2015
NN Open Exhibition | NN Contmeporary Art Gallery | Northampton
100 under 100 | 3rd on 3rd Gallery | Jamestown | New York
Platform Open Annual Art Exhibition | Morphets of Harrogate | Yorkshire
One Year On | Stew Gallery | Norwich | Supported by Norfolk Arts Project Fund
Summer Salon 2015 | Islington Art Factory | London
Rising Stars 2015 exhibition | New Ashgate Gallery | Farnham
2014
Place, Space & Negotiated Territories | Norwich University of the Arts | Norwich
2013
New Designers | Islington | London
Professional Experience (Commissions/Workshops\Projects/Artist Talks)
Research Assistant | The Needlework Development Scheme (NDS) | Touches Stitches Heritage Project | Roles include: taught stitch workshops with prisoners at HM Prison Edinburgh & Cornton Vale, students & staff members at the University of Edinburgh and the general public, digitally archiving the NDS collection, 3D scanning of collection, recording & editing audio files of collection and assisting with exhibition set up and event preparation | University of Edinburgh | Jun 2017 – Current
Lead Artist | Co-coordinating, organising & curating group exhibitions in Edinburgh & Norwich | Between Lands | Divergent | A-I-R 15/16 | One Year On]. Role includes applying for and attaining sponsorship and/or funding to support the exhibitions | 2015 – Current
Artist Talk | Global Arts in the Emergency | Redline Artworks | online | July 2020
Online Artist Workshop | Repeat pattern design workshop for school students | Organisation: Network for East Anglian Collaborative Outreach (NEACO) | Norfolk | May 2020
Artist Commission | Voices for Equity | Created a large-scaled embroidered artwork that raises awareness of stigma and inequalities that impacts people living in Shetland | embroidered tapestry will tour to different locations throughout the Shetland Islands to raise awareness of these issues | Shetland Islands Council on behalf of the Shetland Partnership | 2019 – 2020
Guest Lecturer Tour | Artist Talks & Embroidery Workshops for disadvantaged students at various schools and colleges around Norfolk | helping to promote University education within the Creative Arts | Organisation: Network for East Anglian Collaborative Outreach (NEACO) | Norfolk | January 2018 – October 2019
Artist Workshops | Taught textile & embroidery workshops to primary, secondary school, college students and community groups as part of my artist-in-residence programme | Artsland | County Fermanagh | Dec 2018, May & Sep 2019
Workshop Assistant | 100 Years Women’s Vote Banner making workshops | Taught embroidery skills to female’s at Cornton Vale Prison and student and staff members at the University of Edinburgh | Processions | Artichoke | February – June 2018
Artist Commission | Embroidered Sampler Wall-hanging (A learning aid tool) | Art Department | George Watsons College | Edinburgh | 2017
Workshop Teacher | Taught a series of textile & embroidery workshops for children aged 7-12 online via Art+798’s online software | My workshops were intended to teach children about colour palettes, materials and processes including: learning basic hand embroidery skills and combining different materials & mediums for final product outcomes. | Art+798 International Art Education Center | China | 2015 – 2017
Artist-in-Residence | As part of my residency, I helped assist teach the children from primary 4 up to S6, working closely with the staff members to help organise, set up and prepare art & design workshops and lessons. My role also included planning and running a series of textile and embroidery workshops with Primary 4 up to S5. Some of the technical areas I helped with include: Photoshop/Illustrator, Textiles/Fashion, Graphics and Embroidery | George Watson College | Edinburgh | Aug 2016 – Aug 2017
Textile Art Community Project | Taught embroidery workshops to groups of non-English speaking children (7-11 year olds), teenagers and women | Project supported by The Arts Council NI Travel Award Scheme | 2017
Artist Talk ‘Conflicting Textiles’ [part of my Guest Studio Residency Programme] | Art Cube Artist’s Studio’s | Jerusalem | Feb 2017
Artist Commission | Design & construct campaign banner for Educational Institute of Scotland | commissioned by the Joint Union Liaison Committee at Edinburgh University | 2016
Textile Artist-in-Residency | As part of my residency I worked closely with the staff members on various textile projects both internal and external of the university. I also assisted in the laser cutter department, helping to guide students on digital preparation work and using the laser cutters | Edinburgh College of Art | Sep 2015- Aug 2016
Artist Talk | Materials, Meaning & Messages Exhibition | R-Space | Lisburn | 2016
Artist Talk| Glasgow Artist Guild | Saramago Café | Glasgow | 2016
Environmental 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 represented the storm surge damage surrounding the Norfolk coast | 2015
Artist workshop and volunteer for the Arts Recovery Program | working with vulnerable adults | Norfolk | Certificates in Challenging behaviour and Safeguarding of vulnerable adults | 2015
Artist Talk’s | Meet Your Maker – Maklab – Glasgow | Artist Presentation – Edinburgh College of Art | Guest lecturer – Paston Sixth Form College | 2015
Mural art commissions | Spurs Restaurant | Newry & Belfast | 2007-08
Other Professional Training Experience
Undertook a 3 day Metal Thread Work ‘Queen’s Silk embroidery course | Royal School of Needlework | Glasgow | June 2019
Waveney & Blyth Arts exhibition planning & management course | Symposium team, helped curate and organise the art sculpture trail | Bungay | 2015
Dialogues 2014 | Space, Place and Negotiated Territories | Symposium Team, part of the selection panel who co-ordinated, curated and organised this exhibition & conference | Norwich University of the Arts | 2014
Selected Publications
Artist Interview | Artlink | Available at: https://www.artlink.uk/interview/nikkita-morgan | Sep 2020
Artist Interview | Floatshowcase | Available at: https://floatshowcase.org/nikkita-morgan | Oct 2019
Art & Politics | Artist Feature | Available at: http://www.redlineartworks.org/section652294_361328.html | 2017-18
Artist Interview | Art Reveal Magazine | 22nd Issue | page 76-81 | Available at: http://www.artrevealmagazine.com/22nd-issue/ | 2016
An Interview with Nikkita Morgan | Art Habens Art Review 5th Edition | page 92-113 | Available at: http://issuu.com/arthabens/docs/art_habens_art_review_specialed.201 | 2015
Professional Memberships
The Society for Embroidered Work [S.E.W]
Social media | artist portfolio
