Inga Hamilton
PhD Researcher & Maker; Queer Autistic.
Art Jewellery & Inhabitable Sculptures Blending the Spaces Between Species
Next Symposium Appearance
I am arranging and hosting the Artists Normalising Multispecies Belonging Through Interspecies Communication
symposium with the group I run, ARTISTic - Artist Interspecies Communicators, a group of PostGraduate and PostDoctoral Artists.
20th November 2024 15:00 – 22:00 GMT (to be confirmed)
Recipient of a Northern Bridge Consortium Full Doctoral Studentship Award
Recipient of a 2024 Mike Davies Global Design Challenge Award Recipient of multiple Arts Council NI SIAP Awards
Inga Hamilton (she/her)
Ireland/Northern Ireland, UK.
tel: +44 (0)797 3757 894
"It's the easiest thing in the World to create art that shocks, but I want to touch your heart - for
you to become lost in my work’s intricacy; seized with a childlike desire to be enveloped by it."
Next Symposium Appearance
I am arranging and hosting the Artists Normalising Multispecies Belonging Through Interspecies Communication symposium with the group I run, ARTISTic - Artist Interspecies Communicators, a group of PostGraduate and PostDoctoral Artists.
Date: 20th November 2024 15:00 – 22:00 GMT (to be confirmed)
Bio
Inga Hamilton is an Autistic sculptor, activist and storyteller currently researching a practice-based PhD at the University of Sunderland. Through her Autistic lens, Hamilton’s research guides us towards a nurturing state of ‘multispecies belonging’ for the health of the planet, its animals and humans.
The recipient of a 2024 Mike Davis Global Design Challenge Scholarship to support her work meeting vitally important goals outlined by the UN, Hamilton’s central focus is ‘The Things Animals Make’. Her research reveals a wonderous world of animal creativity, gifting us a greater understanding of human-animal similarities to explore. This understanding collapses the unhealthy, human-imposed boundaries placed between species and enables us to embrace more equitable relationships with animals where all can flourish. Her aim is to move animals to a more centrally significant place in human lives.
Hamilton’s large, inhabitable sculptures and smaller art-jewellery pieces show in galleries worldwide including VISUAL Carlow; The Chicago Cultural Centre; The Hayward, London; New York’s American Irish Historical Society; Dublin’s Ark and Queen’s University, Belfast.
Often ephemeral, with a fleeting performative element, the works reveal the many facets of her own animal personhood and rich, Autistic sense of multispecies belonging.
Inga has a wide knowledge of materials and making practices including textiles, ceramics, metal, seaweed and the use of found objects. She blends these materials with inviting, transformative narratives that speak of respectful co-existence and Autistic connectivity.
Amongst her artistic experience, Hamilton has spun yarns for the late Alexander McQueen at Gucci, represented Irish craft in the American Irish Historical Society in New York, USA and received the Association of Contemporary Jewellers 2020 Graduate Award. She is the recipient of multiple Arts Council of Northern Ireland SIAP awards and, in 2014, was chosen as one of Ireland’s leading textile artists.
Hamilton’s career spans three decades and includes creating content and writing for children’s art, craft and learning publications. Her US residencies and visiting professorships include Pyramid Atlantic MD, St Lawrence University, NY, and Flux studios, MD. Inga is an international member of Red Dirt Studios, MD, USA.
Inga lives in the Ancient Lakelands of Fermanagh in Ireland/Northern Ireland. Her research is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council UK, NBDTP.
Visiting Professorships, Residencies & Exhibitions
I welcome invitations
to Galleries, places
of Higher Education. Residencies or of Representation.
I look forward to speaking with you.
Workshops offered
Acid Dyeing (beginner)
Wild Carding
Freeform Crochet (beginner)
Building a Woodland Loom
Creature Making
Sculpting Smoked Ceramic Birds
Please see the Workshops page
in the pull down menu above and then use
the Contact Me page
if you would like to
host one of my workshops.
2010 - present
2010 - present
Artistic Statement
As a maker I explore blending the boundaries between species.
My jewellery, installations and inhabitable sculptures work spotlights the inherent critical thinking and understanding of materials used when makers of all species make.
With readily-dismissed, low-value natural materials, such as seaweed
and salt, I produce desirable, high-value, adornment. Instigating comparative discussion of my work with that of non-human-animal makers employing the same materials and techniques, such as decorator crabs or dolphins challenges the viewer’s concepts of value and adornment in the natural world.
My research is transdisciplinary - working across science, culture and art - synthesising knowledge into a non-speciesist understanding of making.
CV
Education
2021- current PhD Researcher, University of Sunderland, UK.
Researching 'The Things That Nonhuman Animals Make.' Recipient of a Northern Bridge Consortium Full Doctoral Studentship
2017 - 2020 BA Hons Ceramics, Jewellery and Silversmithing, 1st Class Honours Ulster University, Northern Ireland.
Qualifications
1ST. BA Hons.
DISTINCTION Pearson BTEC Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Art and Design (QCF)
PASS City and Guilds ICT Level 2
Awards
2021 Arts Council of Northern Ireland SIAP Award
2020 Association of Contemporary Jewellery Graduate Award
2020 Executive Dean’s List Award Winner
2019 Subway Ireland Scholarship Winner
2019 Broadening Horizons Travel Bursary Winner
2016 University of Atypical, IDA Award
2013 Arts Council of Northern Ireland SIAP Award
2013 The Art and Craft of Beer, MD, USA. Judges Award
2012 Arts Council of Northern Ireland SIAP Award
2011 Arts Council of Northern Ireland SIAP Award
2009 Arts Council of Northern Ireland Travel Award
Commissions
2018 Queen’s University Belfast, Naughton Collection.
Permanent Art Installation, EEECS Building.
2014 VISUAL, Carlow, Ireland.
Exhibited As 1 of 5 Leading Textile Artists of Ireland.
2012 Private Commission, FL, USA.
Ceramic Art Installation for Client’s Domestic Setting.
2008 Alexander McQueen, Gucci.
Spinning Bespoke Yarn Blends for Collections.
2007 Lush, UK.
Christmas Window Installations for Top 12 Stores.
Residencies & Professorships
2012 Flux Studios & Red Dirt Studios, MD, USA.
Ceramics Artist in Residence.
2009 & 2011 St Lawrence University, Canton, NY, USA.
Visiting Professor.
2009 & 2011 Pyramid Atlantic. Silver Spring, MD. USA.
Papermaking and Print Visiting Artist Residency.
2009 & 2010 Shiplake College. Henley-On-Thames, UK.
Artist in Residence.
2010 Oak Hammock Farm, Wesley Chapel, FL, USA.
Textile Artist in Residence.
Professional Activities
2001-2021 Elephant Shoes Ink Ltd. Children’s Publishing Company NI.
Owner Director, Editor, Writer w/ Andrew Hamilton, Illustrator.
2012- Present Red Dirt Studio, MD, USA.
Lifetime Member.
2019 WorldSkills Day Participant.
2019 Eddie J. Doherty Silversmithing Workshops.
2012 Science Gallery, Trinity College, Dublin, IRE
Ethics Committee Panellist.
2011 Trinity College. Dublin, IRE.
Using Textiles in Research with Physicist Dr Stefan Hutzler.
2009 & 2010 International Fibre Collaborative
Annual Grant Judge.
2008 Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank, London, UK.
The Art and Craft of Saving the World Symposium Speaker.
2000 – 2001 Self-Employed
Writer & Content Creator of Children’s Books and Magazines
1996 – 2000 Act-Two Publishing, London, UK
Researcher, Writer and Editor of Children’s Animal, Art and
Reference Books and Magazines.
Memberships Held
A-N -The Artists Information Company
ACJ - Association for Contemporary Jewellery
CBS - Contemporary British Silversmiths
DACS – Design and Artists Copyright Service
DCCOI – Design and Crafts Council of Ireland
KLIMT02
UGSWD – Ulster Guild of Spinners, Weavers and Dyers
ACJ NI - Association for Contemporary Jewellers NI
Exhibitions
2019 The Duncairn Centre, Belfast, NI
2018-Present Computer Science Building, QUB Naughton Gallery, NI.
2017 Red Dirt, Mount Rainier, MD USA.
2015 Angie Newman Gallery, EHS, Alexandria, USA.
2015 Foster Art Gallery, Westminster College, Pennsylvania. USA.
2014 VISUAL Carlow, Carlow, IRE.
2013 Gateway Arts, Mount Rainier, MD, USA
2013 Handmade in America, Asheville, NC, USA.
2012 The Ark, Dublin, IRE.
2012 R Space, Lisburn. NI.
2012 Oliver Sears Gallery, Dublin, IRE.
2011 American Irish Historical Society, NYC. USA
2011 Cornerhouse, Manchester. UK & Waterfront Hall, Belfast. NI.
2011 Turnpike Gallery. Leigh. UK
2011 The Ark, Dublin, IRE.
2011 FE McWilliam Gallery, Banbridge. NI.
2010 Ulster Festival of Art And Design. University of Ulster, NI
2010 Mathematics ‘Textures’ Conference, Riga, Latvia.
2009 Alternative Village Fete, Southbank, London, UK
2009 Royal Ulster Hall, Belfast, NI
2009 Crack! Festival, Rome, Italy.
2009 Marine Conservation Society, Birmingham, UK
2009 Turnpike Gallery, Leigh, UK
2008 Clarence House, London, UK
2008 ICHF, Touring, UK
2008 Hayward Gallery, Southbank, London, UK
2008 Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank, London, UK
2008 Memorial Art Gallery, Yale College, Wrexham, UK.
2008 World Financial Centre, New York, NY, USA.
2007 Chicago Cultural Centre, Chicago, IL. USA
Charitable Work
2012-Present Womens’ Aid
2010 Prince’s Trust
Sponsors
3M, Bridgedale Socks, Richard Hare Kilts, Culls Upholsterers