​    Inga Hamilton 

"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."

Bio

Inga is driven by a life-long craft obsession. Embracing low-fi equipment that she often builds herself, as well as cutting-edge technologies, Hamilton is about the process, the detail and the rich backstory.

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Whilst her large installations show in galleries, her transient, momentary performances are only ever captured through photography or film.

Her site-specific installation for Belfast's Queen’s University Computer Science Building, and the Naughton Gallery, is a permanent display, open to the public.

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Inga's exhibitions and residencies boast prestigious international venues and galleries, such as Queen’s University, Belfast; VISUAL Carlow; The Chicago Cultural Centre; The Hayward, London; New York’s American Irish Historical Society; and Dublin’s Ark.

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Her US residencies include Pyramid Atlantic MD, St Lawrence University, NY, and Flux studios, MD. Inga is a member of Red Dirt Studios, MD, USA.

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Outside of her own sculptural practice, Hamilton has judged international fibre grant awards, sat on ethics committee panels at Trinity College, Dublin, as well as creating bespoke yarns and blends for the late Alexander McQueen at Gucci.

In 2014, Hamilton was chosen as one of Ireland’s leading textile artists.

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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 for your
group or university.

2010 - present

2010 - present

Artistic Statement
It is my desire as a maker to explore blending the boundaries between species.

Through my body of jewellery work, I spotlight the inherent critical thinking and understanding of materials utilised when makers of all species make. By using readily-dismissed, low-value natural materials, such as seaweed and salt, I endeavour to produce desirable, high-value, wearable adornment. By instigating comparative discussion around my work with that of non-human-animal makers employing the same materials and techniques, such as decorator crabs or dolphins, I hope to challenge the viewer’s concepts of value and adornment within the natural world.

Striving to enchant, my wearable work blends species, aiming to spark debate and bring about a wider consideration of thought process in all making by all species. My hope is to pursue this route with those working across all scientific, cultural and artistic platforms and in future help to synthesise this knowledge into a non-speciest framework of understanding in making.

I travels the world learning traditional craft techniques from those that have mastered them. My central interests lie in textiles, ceramics and cutting edge technologies when applied to the body. I take these techniques and bend them – applying them to my own sculptural vision.

"My concentration is the beauty in the detail. In my studio, I will spend up to a year working on an installation. If I require a crochet hook, I will carve it; yarn, I will spin and dye it; a pot, I will dig the clay and throw it.

Concepts are one thing, but for me, the real craft is in the very process of quality making and the story it embodies."

CV

Education

2017 - 2020    BA Hons Ceramics, Jewellery and Silversmithing, 1st Class Honours                                    Ulster University

2016 - 2017    Pearson BTEC Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Art and Design (QCF)

Qualifications

DISTINCTION Pearson BTEC Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Art and Design (QCF)

PASS              City and Guilds ICT Level 2

Awards

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-Present  Elephant Shoes Ink Ltd. Children’s Publishing Company NI.

                                    Owner Director, Editor & Writer with 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
We Are Jewellers & Silversmiths 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