Artist Statement
My practice challenges the boundaries between craft and fine art. By putting a contemporary spin on thread, I transform a traditional material into sculptural form. I construct figurative works that hover between 2D and 3D - part drawing, part painting, part sculpture.
I see thread as my pencil or paintbrush; exploring the versatility of thread, in ways that means it intrudes into other mediums. I push, pull and stretch the line of thread to draw. I build up layers in colour to create form, light, and shadow. I morph thread into tangible, 3D forms to push the work into the sculptural realm.
My figurative works depict female subjects in active, powerful, and confronting positions. The typical muse has been overworked within art history, but I intend my female subjects to reclaim their power - these women appear fearless and defiant. I attempt to depict these characteristics through the mediums of paint and thread - the application of paint is chaotic and unpredictable, whilst the threadwork is refined, poised and precise in detail.
Photography by @angela.grabowska
Imogen Morris is an artist living and working in Birmingham, UK.
Imogen was born in Birmingham in 1991 and received a first-class degree from Kingston University in Fine Art and Art History (BA hons) in 2013. Her works are held in a number of private and public collections in the UK and internationally.
Education:
Kingston University | First Class | BA (Hons) Fine Art & Art History | 2013
University of Gloucestershire | Merit | Art & Design Foundation Diploma | 2010
Solo Exhibitions:
2025 | RBSA Gallery "Birmingham Collection" | Birmingham, UK
2022 | Digbeth Art Space “In Flux” | Birmingham, UK
2022 | Degreeart Gallery “Meet The Artist” | Bankside Hotel, London UK
2019 | Digbeth Art Space “ThreadBare” | Birmingham, UK
Group Exhibitions:
2025 | Digbeth Art Space “Treading Water” | Birmingham, UK
2025 | HEADS x INNSiDE By Melia "Show XL" | Manchester, UK
2024 | Digbeth Art Space “We Make Mistakes” | Birmingham, UK
2024 | Bankside Hotel x Degree Art Gallery "The Art Of Belonging" | London, UK
2023 | A Space For Art "Being Us" | Myo Victoria | London UK
2023 | White Hotel “We Make Mistakes” | Manchester, UK
2023 | RBSA, “RBSA Graduate Show” | Birmingham, UK
2022 | Virginia Visual Arts “Meet The Artist” | London, UK
2022 | Eastside Projects, “Summer Camp Show” | Birmingham, UK
2022 | RBSA Gallery, “Prize Exhibition 2022” | Birmingham, UK
2022 | Cosimo Art, "Something's Brewing" | Birmingham, UK
2022 | RBSA Gallery, “Friends Open Exhibition” | Birmingham, UK
2022 | New Art Gallery Walsall, “West Midlands Open” | Walsall, UK
2021 | Ikon Gallery, “Ikon for Artists” | Birmingham, UK
2021 | The Artist Lounge, “In the History” King House Gallery | Stratford-Upon-Avon, UK
2021 | Boomer Gallery “Vogue Second Edition” | London, UK
2021 | Digbeth Art Space “Show Vend II” | Birmingham, UK
2019 | Digbeth Art Space, “ShowVend” | Birmingham, UK
2018 | The Anchor Gallery, “For the Love of Art” | Birmingham, UK
2015 | Compton Verney Art Gallery “Museums at Night” | Compton Verney, UK
2015 | General Practice, “ArtHole” | Lincoln, UK
2013 | Kingston University “Degree Show” | Kingston Upon Thames, UK
2013 | Stanley Picker Gallery Publication Launch of S&M | Kingston Upon Thames, UK
2012 | The Centre of Useless Splendour “SEMI” | Kingston Upon Thames, UK
Art Fairs:
2025 | The Other Art Fair | Truman Brewery, London UK
2024 | The Other Art Fair | Truman Brewery, London UK
2023 | The Other Art Fair | Truman Brewery, London UK
2023 | Affordable Art Fair with Degreeart Gallery | Battersea Park, London UK
Prizes:
2023 | Graduate Artist Prize in "Graduate Artist Exhibition" RBSA Gallery | Birmingham, UK
2022 | Highly Commended in “Prize Exhibition 2022” RBSA Gallery | Birmingham, UK
2021 | Third Place in “In the History” King House Gallery | Stratford-Upon-Avon, UK
2021 | Highly Commended in 3D Category “Self Portrait” The Art Yard | Birmingham, UK
Residencies:
July - September 2022 | Artist in Residence, Degreeart Gallery, Bankside Hotel | London, UK
2020 - Present | Artist in Residence, Digbeth Art Space | Birmingham, UK
Gallery Representation:
2026 – Present | Oil Art Advisory | Knutsford, UK
2025 – Present | Pedone Art | Abu Dhabi, UAE
2025 – Present | HEADS Collective | Manchester, UK
2024 - Present | Art of Protest Gallery | York, UK
2023 - Present | George Thornton Art | Nottingham, UK
2022 - Present | Seventh Circle | Birmingham, UK
2021 - Present | DegreeArt Gallery | London, UK
2020 - Present | Digbeth Art Space | Birmingham, UK
Public Commissions:
2026 | "50th Anniversary Portrait" | King's Trust | Birmingham, UK
2025 | "The Threads of Production" | PWR Ltd | Veenendaal, The Netherlands
2024 | "DIGBETH" | Custard Factory x EOS Interiors | Birmingham, UK
2023 | “Belonging” | Edgbaston Priory Club | Birmingham, UK
2022 | “Emily” Bankside Hotel x Contemporary Collective | London, UK
2020 | “Eyes” Art Quarter | Birmingham, UK
2019 | “Mary Lee Berners-Lee” Portrait | West Midlands Women in Tech Awards | Birmingham, UK
Grants:
2024 | Start Up Grant for business support funded by the Kings Trust
2022 | Create Grant for “In Flux” exhibition funded by STEAMhouse
2022 | Will It Work Grant for “In Flux” exhibition funded by the Kings Trust
2019 | Materials Grant for “ThreadBare” exhibition funded by Eaton Fund
2016 | “Stitch Together” Quilt Community Project funded by O2 Think Big
Memberships:
2023 – 2026 | RBSA | Graduate Membership | Birmingham, UK
Talks:
2025 | Guest Speaker "Developing Your Creative Practice" | Solihull College and University Centre
2025 | Guest Speaker "Get Gallery Ready" | Solihull College and University Centre
2024 | "The Importance of Process in Art” | Birmingham Design Festival
2024 | Artist Talk | Birmingham City Guild of Weavers, Dyers & Spinners
2023 | Pecha Kucha | Manchester Metropolitan University
Press:
2024 | Birmingham Living Magazine, Issue 103, February 2024 “Nailing It” https://issuu.com/rockhoppermedia/docs/february_2024_issue130_
2022| I Choose Birmingham “Dawn of the Thread” https://ichoosebirmingham.com/dawn-thread
Photography by @angela.grabowska
Photography by @helloepiphany
Photography by @helloepiphany
