Archive of Author | Judith Alder

About Judith Alder

Judith Alder is a British visual artist with a multi-faceted practice, working across a range of media and processes informed by science. Her work is directed by her premise on the process of evolution in the 21st Century; that scientists can create and manipulate biological life, technologists are creating artificial life, inanimate objects often appear to take on a life of their own, and some things seem to be neither dead nor alive. She has exhibited in The Freud Museum, London and Towner Art Gallery, Eastbourne and was shortlisted for The Jerwood Drawing Prize 2012. In 2015 she was nominated for The Drawing Room Bursary Award. Her work has been acquired/commissioned by individuals & institutions including Anthony Penrose (Farley Farm), West Dean College, Canterbury Christ Church University and Towner Eastbourne. Previous exhibitions include: The New Immortals (2013-16): research project, exhibition and events program at Phoenix Arts, Brighton collaborating with Brighton & Sussex Medical School and Brighton Centre for Regenerative Medicine, exploring ideas about extended life in an age of science; Once In A Universe (2016-18): research project exploring the origins of life as an approach to understanding the Anthropocene including an events programme, workshops and 2-week residency at DC1 Project Space, Eastbourne. Over her 20 years practising as an artist, Alder has initiated and managed numerous artist-led projects, working with arts organisations, galleries, universities, schools and museums, and collaborating with scientists, geologists, ethicists and academics to develop the research which informs her work. She has been Director of Blue Monkey Artists Network in partnership with Towner Art Gallery 2011-20, Visiting Lecturer at Brighton University 2013-17, a member of a-n’s Artist Council from 2019-22 and a team member of Full Frontal Eastbourne, advocating for art and artists in Eastbourne and beyond. Other projects include commissions to curate exhibitions including Collective at DC1 Gallery, Eastbourne 2018 and Full Frontal public art project, Eastbourne 2020-21 as well as being selected for curated exhibitions, A Generous Space at Hastings Contemporary 2021, Visions at The Nunnery, London 2020 and The Bomb Factory Film Festival 2021.

Judith Alder is a British visual artist with a multi-faceted practice, working across a range of media and processes informed by science. Her work is directed by her premise on the process of evolution in the 21st Century; that scientists can create and manipulate biological life, technologists are creating artificial life, inanimate objects often appear to take on a life of their own, and some things seem to be neither dead nor alive.

She has exhibited in The Freud Museum, London and Towner Art Gallery, Eastbourne and was shortlisted for The Jerwood Drawing Prize 2012. In 2015 she was nominated for The Drawing Room Bursary Award. Her work has been acquired/commissioned by individuals & institutions including Anthony Penrose (Farley Farm), West Dean College, Canterbury Christ Church University and Towner Eastbourne.

Previous exhibitions include: The New Immortals (2013-16): research project, exhibition and events program at Phoenix Arts, Brighton collaborating with Brighton & Sussex Medical School and Brighton Centre for Regenerative Medicine, exploring ideas about extended life in an age of science; Once In A Universe (2016-18): research project exploring the origins of life as an approach to understanding the Anthropocene including an events programme, workshops and 2-week residency at DC1 Project Space, Eastbourne.

Over her 20 years practising as an artist, Alder has initiated and managed numerous artist-led projects, working with arts organisations, galleries, universities, schools and museums, and collaborating with scientists, geologists, ethicists and academics to develop the research which informs her work. She has been Director of Blue Monkey Artists Network in partnership with Towner Art Gallery 2011-20, Visiting Lecturer at Brighton University 2013-17, a member of a-n’s Artist Council from 2019-22 and a team member of Full Frontal Eastbourne, advocating for art and artists in Eastbourne and beyond.

Other projects include commissions to curate exhibitions including Collective at DC1 Gallery, Eastbourne 2018 and Full Frontal public art project, Eastbourne 2020-21 as well as being selected for curated exhibitions, A Generous Space at Hastings Contemporary 2021, Visions at The Nunnery, London 2020 and The Bomb Factory Film Festival 2021.

https://www.judithalder.com/

Articles with Judith Alder

Vital Signs

Judith Alder is a British visual artist with a multi-faceted practice, working across a range of media and processes. Central to her work is a fascination with biology, physics and the history of scientific endeavour and science fiction. Alder is interested in how an understanding of life, its origins and evolution can help us think about the future of our rapidly changing world. She sees her work as a means of exploring and communicating complex ideas. In her latest show, ‘Vital Signs’, she assembles a body of interconnected works grounded in research and inspired by accessible science communicators and visionary writers like HG Wells, Primo Levi, Kazuo Ishiguro and Stanislaw Lem.