Connor Coulston (B.1992, Oldham, UK) is an artist with a practice that can be defined as an ongoing articulation of the relationship between self-deprecating humour as a means of enquiry, the mutability of clay, and the wild imaginary. Coulston’s work emerges from a fascination with the kitsch ceramic ornaments one might find in thrift stores, museums, or that might adorn a grandparent’s fireplace. He subverts these often ‘mundane’ pieces through a rigorous questioning of their legacy and hidden narratives, connecting these historical signifiers to symbols of the contemporary struggles that he has personally experienced, such as depression, queer identity and his grandmother’s problematic love for right-wing politicians. Coulston creates surreal and kitsch sculptures which, on first inspection, appear to communicate levity only revealing their more critical and sinister undertones once his audience has been lured into a misguided sense of security.
EDUCATION
Royal College of Art – MA 2017
University of Brighton – BA 2015
SOLO SHOWS
2023
‘Dreamin’ of a Chippy Tea’, The Drawing Schools Gallery, Eton College, Windsor. UK.
2022
‘Connor Coulston…in Bideford’, Burton on Bideford Museum and Art Gallery, Bideford. UK (solo)
‘Thoughts from a sleepless night’, The Crypt Gallery. Norwich. UK. (solo)
Connor Coulston & Dan Hollings, Cutting Teeth, Alveston Fine Art, Notting Hill, London. UK.
2018
‘Seeing things, Seeing you, Hun xoxox’, Royal Over-Sea's League, London. UK.
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
Current:
‘Immortal Apples, Eternal Eggs’, Hastings Contemporary, Hastings, UK.
Upcoming:
December 2024 / “Menagarie’, National Glass Centre, Sunderland, UK.
January 2025 / ‘Lives Less Ordinary’, Two Temple Place, London. UK.
January 2025/ London Art Fair with Caroline Fisher Projects, London. UK.
2024
‘Beyond the Kiln’, County Hall Gallery, London. UK.
2022
Welcome to my World: Ceramics with Narrative (Touring Exhibition), The Hub, Sleaford. UK
Welcome to my World: Ceramics with Narrative (Touring Exhibition), New Brewery Arts, Cirencester. UK.
2021
Contemporary British Ceramics: Beneath the Surface. The Drawing Schools Gallery, Eton College, Windsor. UK
Alveston Fine Art 5th Year Anniversary Show. London. UK.
AWARD, British Ceramics Biennial, China Hall, Stoke on Trent. UK.
Welcome to my World: Ceramics with Narrative, The Burton Art Gallery and Museum, Bideford. UK.
CoExistence Exhibition - Sladmore Contemporary Gallery, London. UK.
2020
The Ingram Prize, Online exhibition.
2019
Young Masters Art Prize, La Galleria, Royal Opera Arcade, St Jame’s, London. UK.
John Ruskin Art Prize, Holden Gallery, Manchester, UK.
‘Me, My Nan and Oldham’ Sky Art 50, Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, Newcastle, UK.
2017
Recent Graduates Exhibition, Affordable Art Fair, London. UK.
RCA SHOW 2017, London. UK.
St Helena’s Trust Ceramic Competition, Richmond, London. UK.
Sarah Griffin Selects Royal College of Art Students, London Craft Week, London. UK.
The Emerging and the Established, Christies Auction House, South Kensington, London. UK.
RCA Work in Progress Show, London. UK.
2016
Garden of Delights, Royal College of Art, London. UK.
AWARDS:
SHORTLISTED - AWARD British Ceramics Biennial. Stoke on Trent. UK. 2021
WINNER - The Ingram Prize, London. UK. 2020
SHORTLISTED - Young Masters Art Prize, London. UK. 2019
SHORTLISTED - John Ruskin Art Prize, Holden Gallery, Manchester, UK. 2019
The People’s Choice Award – St Helena’s Trust Ceramic Competition. 2017
Highly Commended – Royal Over-Sea’s League Trophy Competition. 2017
COLLECTIONS:
The Ingram Collection.
Burton at Bideford Art Museum.
Batia Ofer Art Collection.
PRESS/TV:
JUNE 19 - Art 50 - The British: Class, ‘Me, my Nan and Oldham’
MAR 19 - Sky Arts - Sky Art Art 50: A picture of Britain, ‘Me, my Nan and Oldham’
http://www.skyartsart50.tv/projects/oldham/
MAR 19 - From Oldham with Love - Overseas Magazine.
FEB 19 - Sky News - Speaking about my artwork and Oldham.
OCT 17 - Body politics: four up-and-coming artists exploring feminism and gender - Evening Standard, Homes and Property.
JULY 17 - RCA Degree Show - Emerging Potters Magazine.