bio
Ben Malcolmson (b.1999) is a visual artist from Belfast, living and working in Dublin. Ben works within the parameters of photography, video and sculpture exploring alternative photographic processes with relation to one’s land and identity.
In 2019, Ben was awarded to be apart of Making Marks by the Arab British Centre, funded by the British Council Kuwait. Making Marks, explored the impact of international working on emerging artists. Ben’s residency to Kuwait was one stage in the Making Marks project. Over several months, Ben worked with Belfast Exposed Gallery on a body of work titled Murmur which was exhibited in the gallery as a solo show during February 2020.
Education:
He is a graduate from Ulster University, Belfast, Northern Ireland, graduating with a First Class Honours in Bachelor's of Photography with Video, his previous studies include undertaking his Erasmus studies (2019-20) at The Royal Academy of Art, The Hague in Bachelor's of Photography.
Professional Experience:
Ben is the current recipient working with Photo Museum Ireland on their Shared Histories - Diverse Views Artist Commission (2024), he has further received support from A-N Bursaries, Time Space Money (2022) and has been additionally supported by the Arts Council Northern Ireland Individuals Emergency Resilience Programme (2020) and 126 Gallery’s Micro-Grant Programme (2021).
Ben is a current studio artist based at Flax Artist Studios in the Emerging Artist Programme (2020-2024) and was a previous cohort member in Constellations - by Up Projects in partnership with Flat Time House in Association with Liverpool Biennial (2023/24). Ben previously participated in The Douglas Hyde Gallery, Student Forum (2020/21).
Ben was previously the Assistant Curator (previous role Exhibition Assistant, 2021-22) at Belfast Exposed Gallery from 2022-2023. Ben’s relationship has developed over several years with Belfast Exposed Gallery through participating in their Young Futures programme (2015-2017), facilitating events for the galleries summer scheme (2016/17/21/22) as well as a Gallery Invigilator and Events Assistant (2017-2019).
Solo / Duo Exhibitions:
2022 - QSS, Lands In-between, Belfast, NI
2020 - Belfast Exposed, Murmur, Belfast, NI
Group Exhibitions (selected):
2023 - Catalyst Arts, to lean, to fold, to fall, to buckle, to hold, to carry, to support, Belfast, NI
2022 - The Printworks, Dublin Castle, PhotoIreland: Images Are All We, Dublin, IRL
2022 - Draíocht, you breathe differently down here, Dublin, IRL
2021 - Belfast City Hall, Lord Mayor's Parlour, Belfast, NI
2021 - The Douglas Hyde Gallery, Rendering New Realities: Access & Alterity, Dublin, IRL
2021 - Catalyst Arts x Belfast Photo Festival, And, if we observe the present, Belfast, NI
2020 - Bow Street Mall, Business as Usual, Lisburn, NI
2020 - Accidental Theatre, Speak It Now Eat It, Belfast, NI
2020 - Museum Belvédère, Generation Z, Heerenveen, NL
2019 - Belfast Exposed, The Collective, Belfast, NI
Residencies:
2024 - Cow House Studios x Kunstverein Aughrim, Micro Residency w/ Bassam Issa Al-Sabah, Co. Wexford, IRL (forthcoming)
2021 - Belfast School of Art, Graduate-in-residence, Belfast, NI
2021 - DAS Home Residency, Artist-in-residence, Belfast, NI
2020 - Making Space, Online
2018-19 - Northern Narratives, Online
Publications/Interviews (selected):
2021 - The Tangerine (print)
2021 - Catalyst Arts, Sam's Eden (print)
2021 - Catalyst Arts, And, if we observe the present (print)
2021 - Catalyst Arts, And, if we observe the present: A Reading (online video)
2021 - Flax Art Studios (zoom Interview)
2021 - Source (online)
2020 - Making Marks (online)
2020 - Arab British Centre (online video)
2020 - Belfast Exposed (online)
2019 - Belfast Exposed (online video)
Talks:
2023 - Esker Art Centre, Visual Artists Ireland, How Spaces Expand Programming panel discussion, Tullamore, IRL
2023 - IMMA, Earth Rising Festival, 'Handiwork’, screening & discussion with Gabriel Coleman, Dublin, IRL
2023 - Liverpool Biennial (Up Projects in partnership with Flat Time House), Artist Talk, Constellations Cohort, Liverpool, ENG
2021 - Belfast School of Art, Guest Lecture, Belfast, NI
2020 - Arab British Centre Artist Talk, Making Marks: Exploring Creative Exchange, Zoom
2020 - Belfast Exposed Gallery Artist Talk, Murmur, Belfast, NI
2019 - Niu Kuwait Artist Talk Making Marks, Kuwait City, KW
Workshops:
2024 - Bright Lights, Engagement Workshop, Photo Museum Ireland, Dublin, IRL
2022-23 - Young Futures, Youth Programming & Facilitation, Belfast Exposed, Belfast, NI
2021 - Concealed in the half-light, Engagement Workshop, Commissioned by Catalyst Arts, Magherafelt, NI
2021 - Belfast Hills Partnership x Belfast Exposed, Youth Engagement Workshop, Belfast, NI
2021- Belfast Exposed Summer Scheme, Kids & Teens Workshop, Belfast, NI
Awards:
2023-2024 - Up Projects, Constellations, England
2022 - A-N Bursaries, Time Space Money, England
2021 - Fotomuseum Winterthur, Pla(t)form, Switzerland (Nomination)
2021 - Chennai Photo Biennale, India (Nomination)
2021 - 126 Gallery, Micro-Grant Programme, Ireland
2020 - The Douglas Hyde Gallery, Student Forum, Ireland
2020 - Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Individuals Emergency Resilience Programme (IERP), Northern Ireland
2018 - Ulster University, Deans List, Northern Ireland
