27.11.2024

In the throes of existential dread so my website still needs updating. (soz)

I’ve been yapping again. As a nervous speaker a massive thank you to Tom and Rich for the lovely chat on Camera Cafe, we talked milking cows, working dual jobs as an artist and life on the land. Listen here.

In case you want more A bit of a different chat with Daniel Rad on thinking about rural places, poverty and hope over on Ferncast. Listen here

Review of After the End of History by Tom Denman here

22.11.2024

Currently back up in the highlands making long form work with communities my favourite!

Massive thank you to Chris of documentary storytellers for having me on. You can listen to the piece recorded in 2023 here

06.11.2024

Reallllllly over the moon to have work in what looks to be a incredible show about class in the UK, ‘Lives less ordinary: Working Class Britain Re-seen at Two Temple Palace.

04.11.2024

November has rolled in. I’ve been writing, researching, thinking, reading, farming and doing loads of online meetings that make me want to be outside. A huge thank you to Neave Herridge for this lovely feature currently in the November issue of living north magazine. https://www.livingnorth.com/article/meet-northern-artist-giving-voice-rural-working-class-women

Eeee getting to speak at Photo Fringe symposium, link for tickets here

A few bits of quite exciting news, I was really surpirsed to be nominated for the Deutsche Borse prize this year. It is something I have followed since I first studied in London and one of my first engagements with the medium. I will be showing at Photo Frome festival in April 2025 (new work incoming), and showing at the incredible Farley’s in May - June 2025. https://www.farleyshouseandgallery.co.uk/exhibition-detail/daughters-of-the-soil/

I’ve been working on my website but juggling long days of work. (It’s coming, I promise!) I still haven’t had a proper day off since 2023 and very much feeling it. I am heading into hibernation and practicing working at a slower pace from this week.

Really lovely video showing the installation at Vane gallery a few years in 2022, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7CNX86ls14 (including snippets of the sound collaboration with Erland Cooper.)

A big thank you to Bishorpthorpe club for having me to speak last week, and for the students from York university for the informal chats too!

A huge thank you to Roisin Kennan for this interview up on the State of the Arts.

Big thanks to Farming Outlook for having me on to talk about Nature Friendly Farming and some excellent folks here

28.10.2024

Towards new worlds is an extraordinary show. At the opening I felt so overwhelmed to be amongst so many brilliant artists. Feeling excited by the show and this review by Kate Tobin (an excellent writer worth having a read of their other pieces too) in Wallpaper*

I’ve been working up in the highlands at a space I’ve admired for years. Previously passing through, enjoying the shows as spectator. I’m grateful to be artist in residence making new work around labour and gender at Timespan.

22.09.2024

Huge thanks to the brilliant Philippa Kelly for the interview about Middle of Somewhere (on at Baltic Centre for contemporary art until November 17th) read here

I’m working with Baltic on an film screening event in November featuring two incredible artists films / work Warren Harrison and Andrew Black. More here

Lots of admin, lots of delicious online meetings, and time on the farm working,. Much time spent thinking about the roots of my practice, and care. How this work with the land, care for the non human filters through into my work as a visual artist.

Last weekend I spoke at and hosted a mini workshop for a Union event in County Durham, the organisation was new to me but they are doing wonderful work and activism. Strongly recommend

17.09.2024

Timespan is one of my all time favourite art spaces in the UK. I have been in the Highlands of Scotland researching for new work. I spent a week as artist in Residence and will be spending more time there over the next few months making exciting new work. Of course it’s about class, of course.

I have some work in a show opening at Fountains Mill, Fountains Abbey in North Yorkshire. I played a very small part in the Skell Valley Voices project. More info here Wonderful people appreciating nature and place.

Image of a man with grey in woodland looking at a tree — Portrait of Neil from The Skell Valley Voices Exhibition

Thank you the Daniel Hall, the rural reporter at the Chronicle for the feature here

29.08.2024

I’ve had work acquired by the government art collection, and I still can’t quite believe it. Three works from the series Lie of the Land now sit within the collection.

Interview with the government art collection. It was so lovely to meet the team and chat to Leigh Anne this summer. https://artcollection.dcms.gov.uk/stories/art-questions-with-joanne-coates/

14.08.2024

I adore the writing of Jennifer Jasmine White and loved this piece on her substack (Even got a shout out, cannot believe these wonderful people know my work).

Lovely article about the show at MIMA here Towards New Worlds on Ocula

Hopeful work for Die Zeit last week here working with writer Simon Langemann

06.08.2024

Nice to find out I was shortlisted for the Hopper Prize today.

Brilliant to have this work in MIMA until February 2025. Making work about my diagnosis was difficult and vulnerable. It is something I don’t often speak about for fear of not getting work as a freelancer or for fear as not being seen as useful in my own community. A big thank to Arts Council England, I was able to make this work as part of my DYCP, looking at creating a practice in my own community and rural space.

19.07.2024

Apparently I have not had enough of driving around the country… Today travelled down to Cheltenham to make a post election portrait with a MP who lost their seat and I’m on way to Kestle Barton in Cornwall to talk about my connection with the land as an artist.

Review of work in Towards New Worlds by another talented writer Philippa Kelly in the Art Newspaper. https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2024/07/19/groundbreaking-uk-exhibition-spotlights-work-of-disabled-ddeaf-and-neurodivergent-artists

Last night was the opening of Towards New Worlds. Was I nervous sharing new experimental work - yes! The show on until February 2025 at MIMA

You can find a review of The Middle of Somewhere show currently on at The Baltic by a wonderful writer, Kate Anne Tobin, in the current issue of Aesthetica (June / July issue 119)

Earlier this year I had one of the most nourishing chats with the amazing human that is Bella Milroy, It is part of the Further Afield series looking at Arts, disability and rurality. You can also find a wonderful response as part of the project written by wonderful and talented Louisa Adjoa Parker Now available here >> https://levelcentre.com/further-afield-joanne-coates-louisa-adjoa-parker/

Having a hard time amongst the crowds in London whilst I look at post election / pre recess Westminster BUTBUTBUT it’s quite exciting even if I am losing my sense of identity in the city.

Lots of time missing my dog while I travelled over 6500 miles around the UK covering the election. Some info here and here and also here

I have some work up as part of Swaledale Farming Film & Photography Festival. Feat me fellow Nature Friendly Farming Champions. Find out more about the Custodians of the Soil work here https://www.thestation.co.uk/Whats-On/Exhibitions/Custodians-of-the-Soil-Swaledale-Farming-Film-and-Photography-Festival-2024

31.05.2024

Became the Election Artist! - Further information here https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/301/speakers-advisory-committee-on-works-of-art/content/116399/election-artist/

Found out I was nonimated for the Election Artist of 2024. Went through interviews.

Moved house. (15 minutes away from where we were before)

Finished making work for https://mima.art/exhibition/towards-new-worlds/ opening in July 2024!

14.05.2024

Find me making new work for this wonderful show https://mima.art/exhibition/towards-new-worlds/ getting ready to exhibit work around nature friendly farming, and being done in.

Opened a solo show at THE BLOODY Baltic. From now till November 17th Wed - Sunday https://baltic.art/whats-on/0P-joanne-coates-the-vasseur-baltic-artists-awardmiddle-of-somewhere/

Did an interview with the lovely NARC magazine

Got a review from one of my favourite writers Charlotte Jansen in the Guardian

Did some farm work, didn’t get a day off <3

Got a dead exciting new commission looking at hidden histories of working class people in North Yorkshire.

https://tribunemag.co.uk/2024/04/photography-against-the-end-of-history-photography-exhibition-working-class

After the End of History: British Working Class Photography 1989 – 2024. explores life through the lenses of working class artists, who have not only turned their gaze to their own communities, but also out towards the wider world. The result is a breadth of photographic work that not only celebrates contemporary working class life, championing its diversity and beauty, but also challenges perceptions of it, whilst offering a counterintuitive picture of our broader landscape. I’m really excited to be part of this work visualising working class photographers through the working class perspective. Touring across the UK. https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/touring-programme/hayward-gallery-touring/exhibitions/after-end-history-british-working-class-photography-1989-2024

T H E M I D D L E O F S O M E W H E R E

Rural places are often seen as ‘idyllic’ or ‘remote’. Places that are often seeing the effects of climate first hand. What does this mean for young people who live here? Who can afford to live there? The middle of somewhere is a collaborative work using photography, sound, video and installation to tell a different story around class, climate, the cost of living and the countryside. I’ve been making work in Orkney, and the North East Yorkshire Dales. If you are effected by any of the above I would love to chat to you too. For now I am making work in those two areas but I will be opening this out from summer 2024. This work is made possible by the generous support of the The Vasseur Baltic Artists' Award and will be display May 10th - November 17th at The Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead.

More information available here: https://baltic.art/whats-on/0P-joanne-coates-the-vasseur-baltic-artists-award/

If you would like to take part. You can contact me on hello@joannecoates.co.uk

I was asked to write about artist place making for lush Art Network North East. You can read my response here >>> https://anne.art/artists-make-places-joanne-coates/

I’ve had work acquired and now in the collection of Middlesbrough Museum of Modern Art. Liznojan was the project where I found my voice, visually. I walked along point of class conflict from the North West to the North East of England. It was my final project at University, London College of Communication. The work was completed in 2015 and began in 2013. It was an honour to revisit this work. It is where I realised I was able to make work about my rural roots and home. A body of work that enabled me to know it was ok to move home after University. A massive thank you to MIMA, one of my all time favourite collections!

I was invited by MIMA to accompany several artists down to Boulby’s underground laboratory. Images from the trips alongside some reflections can be seen in the newest issue of MIMA zine. (Click on the image to have a read.)

Review of People Powered in Corridor 8 https://corridor8.co.uk/article/people-powered-stories-from-the-river-tees/

I currently have from the series ‘Herdship’ on display at Middlesbrough Museum of Modern Art until 22nd December 2023.
The work was commissioned by the TeesSwale programme, The Northern Pennines AONB and The Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Ingrid Hall, The Well Being Hub Wallsend, for Sabe the children, Cost of Living Heroes. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/09/cost-of-living-champions-women-battling-the-crisis

Talk recording from *Photography & Representation* with brilliant ***Amara Eno, Maryam Wahid and Ciara Leeming.***
https://www.impressions-gallery.com/resource/seminar-photography-representation/

Thank you to Geoff Harris for the mention in Amateur Photographer. Really interesting take on rural depictions. https://amateurphotographer.com/latest/opinion/why-is-so-much-landscape-photography-dishonest/?fbclid=IwAR2nN4kYp1Se5IypXcyd9jM7E2mafgJgIKnq1CIWdMT04ctteDPYCQYpluw

Big thank you to Caught by the river for the write up, https://www.caughtbytheriver.net/2023/04/the-lie-of-the-land-joanne-coates/?fbclid=IwAR0Zvt7SVEx0Yj4EbqSjZz7OuUWKeWG8jci5F6RqtL-DtzCrFHOjRIekhbM

Evocative Photos of Working Class Life in Rural England

Interview with High life North *Award-winning photographer Joanne Coates on her quiet rebellion against inequality*

G R O W & G A T H E R || A commission around the working class hidden history of allotments// Redcar palace // install photos from Millie, Beth & Joe at Redcar Palace // massive thank you to all the team for all your support.

Last week we bound zines and handed them out with a little care / thank you pack. The exhibition was in Redcar June - July 2023.

“Grow and Gather is an art exhibition presented by the Redcar Palace, which explores the theme of gardens, allotments, growing and the joy that these spaces and activities can bring. At the heart of this exhibition is a newly commissioned series of photographs by Joanne Coates which pay tribute to growers, cyclists and dog walkers at Zetland Park Allotments in Redcar and the communities that live around them.”

Thank you to James Beeighton and Beth Smith for all the support and being excited by bringing in different elements into the show. Beth and James gave me lots of freedom around curation: Vegetables in the gallery, free fruit and veg for visitors, tips from the community I worked with on life, meals, growing, Flowers from Beth’’s own allotment, using farm crates to create a show, an enclosure themed window by the artist Sarah Jarman. It was exciting to really think of the space and what we could do to bring the outside in.

I’m excited to have access to a hot desk at Newbridge Studios in Newcastle. I use a barn space as a studio working from there when I can but it is an empty dishevelled barn that in winter is unbearably cold. (It’s not a fancy barn!) What it means is I can explore working in the landscape, scale of works and how works engage with nature. If you fancy a meeting in Newcastle I can come and share work with you somewhere warmer and more accessible for most. Being a very rural artist can be hard. I’m excited to be part of Newbridge’s Collective studio programme and meet other artist’s in the region.

Itv visited us at Ormesby hall to meet some of the Sheroes I photographed and to see the work on display. Lovely feature with the amazing Zak and Christine who took part in the series.

Shazia, Photographed in her chosen location of Roseberry topping for ‘Sheroes’ A borderlands Creative people and places commission.

Farm outdoor art installation — Article and review of the outdoor art installation at Langdon Beck. Bringing work and showing it within the communities and context it was made is vital.

I am increasingly bringing my practice into the spaces I work with outdoor installations both Urban and Rural. This show at Langdon Beck was a bringing the story to the community it was set in whilst reaching tourists who visit the area.

Review of outdoor installation in the North Pennines https://www.culturednortheast.co.uk/2023/05/16/exhibition-herdship-by-joanne-coates/

BBC News Herdship https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-65582079

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/whats-on/arts-culture-news/farm-photographs-go-display-landscape-2692709

A commission for Bloomberg. I went to Middlesbrough to response to crime statistics.

A focus on rural North Cumbria and higher interest rates for Bloomberg

A year in review! 2022 ‘how was it for you?’ Interview with A-n on what I have been up to. https://www.a-n.co.uk/news/2022-how-was-it-for-you-1-joanne-coates/

A beautiful film by the very talented Piotr Sell about making work in the North East of England, focusing on The Lie of the Land. https://photoworks.org.uk/jpa-joanne-coates/

Interview with the lovely NEPN https://northeastphoto.net/news/joanne-coates-interview/

Creating space for Authentic identities article on British journal of Photography https://www.1854.photography/2022/10/joanne-oates-and-heather-agyepong-create-space-for-their-authentic-identities/

Reframing. Reclaiming at The Arthouse Wakefield. Working with Hannah Starkey and making work around farm labour and gender. https://the-arthouse.org.uk/exhibitions/reframing-reclaiming/

Speaking with Ben Smith on A Small voice podcast listen here https://bensmithphoto.com/asmallvoice/joanne-coates

Editorial Photographers today showcase http://www.epuk.org/showcase/female-farmers-in-rural-britain-by-joanne-coates

Work around females labour in rural spaces with accompanying sound piece at The Art House Wakefield October 2022 - February 2023

A huge honour to be on women’s hour talking about women in Agriculture. A dream! Link HERE

Sheroes event at Ormesby Hall in Middlesbrough. https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/gallery/sheroes-teesside-celebration-event-honours-26424516

Our Country Lives exhibition at Bowlees visitor centre 2022. Working with young people in rural upper Teesdale on what it means to grow up in a space increasingly changing

A huge thank you to the BBC In Pictures team or featuring the Daughters of the Soil work on their site and homepage.

Proper honoured to have my image on the cover of this important book by Menelaos Gkartzios. An important read!

a female florist and farmer looks out towards the land. — Solo Show at The Gymnasium gallery, Berwick-Upon Tweed. Till June 5th 2022.

Talking about rurality with It’s nice that. For so long I thought artists who worked in the countryside could only be outsiders, towns folk who go in and out. Since studying I’ve always explored rurality. My final project whilst at The university of the arts in 2015 was focused on the eerie aspects of the countryside, but exploring how it feels to leave and come back (See the Liznojan project for more information.) I love Liz Gorny’s words here and she totally grasped the work. https://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/joanne-coates-photography-040322

A screenshot showing an article from the BJP on Women in Farming — Really lovely to speak to the talented writer Ellie Howard about Women in farming Residency with Maltings and Newcastle University. Featured in the British Journal of Photography early 2021. https://www.1854.photography/2020/12/joanne-coates-gender-inequality-farming/

North Sea swells highlands and islands fishing industry book by Jo Coates — What an experience! I worked with Ian over at Another Place press on this zine around my series North Sea Swells. There was two print runs and both SOLD OUT! I’m overwhelmed. Thank you so much for all your continued support. It was a lovely way of getting this work around masculinity, class, fishing and rural places out there!

I finally entered Portrait of Britain for the first time. They offered reduced price and that was me able to commit. I’m so happy to be one of the winners this and have the work shown across the UK. Especially to focus on my portrait of Ian, the youngest white fish skipper in the UK. Have a look at all the winners here: https://www.1854.photography/2020/08/portrait-of-britain-2020-the-winners/

A massive thank you to mega talented writer Kerry Manders for the interview over on Women Photograph https://www.womenphotograph.com/news/2018/12/9/women-talk-joanne-coates

Really honored to be interviewed by the brilliant writer Eli over on Mere Mortal. Eli is doing brilliant work across the UK. Speaking to working class photographers and writing about images. One of my favourite interviews to date. https://meremortalmag.wixsite.com/meremortalmag/blog/joanne-coates-women-in-photography