Sophie Mellor is a gang leader and a gang follower, an urban hermit and a trainee horseback archer. She is currently exploring the obvious; researching futility; meeting with animals; embroidering the truth and living in a cave.
She is co-founder and co-director of Plan 9, a Bristol based artist-led visual arts organisation established in 2005, which ran until 2010. She has a collaborative based practice focused on creating discussion through action and provocation, setting up constructs that challenge notions of self and society.
Brief CV
Curatorial Projects
2010 Urban Retreat, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, UK
2009 The Summer of Dissent, Plan 9, Bristol, UK
2007 All our Worst Work, Plan 9 Projects, Spike Island, Bristol
2006 Wig Wam Bam!, The Red Lodge Museum, Bristol, UK
2005 Industry & Idleness, Plan 9, Bristol
2005 Gatsobyter, Plan 9, Bristol
2005 BRSLAXVAA, Plan 9, Bristol
2005 – 2010 Plan 9, Bristol – Co-founder and Co-Director.
Residencies
2010 PLAND, New Mexico, USA
2009 Outpost, Norwich, UK
2008 Art Gene, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, UK
Selected Exhibitions/Events
2011 Traverse, Geneva Stop, Bristol, UK
2011 Manual For Marginal Places – Book Launch, S1 Artspace, Sheffield, UK
2010 Urban Wanderer, (part of Urban Retreat), Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, UK
2009 Micro Makers Faire, May You Live in Interesting Times, Chapter, Cardiff
2009 Plan 9 Grant for Art, Plan 9, Bristol
2009 Concrete Radio, Outpost, Norwich
2009 Women With Weapons, Plan 9, Bristol
2008 Somewhere Here, Billboard project, Bristol
2008 Minor Breast, publication by Braco de Ferro, Portugal
2008 Far West, Arnolfini, Bristol
2007 Utstallrumm, Plan 9 Projects, Dspace, Spike Island, Bristol
2007 All our Worst Work, Plan 9 Projects, Dspace, Spike Island, Bristol
2005 Industry & Idleness, Plan 9, Bristol
2004 Mesh, Seven Seven Gallery, London
2004 Ida Branson Memorial Bequest Exhibition, Atkinson Gallery, Millfield
2003 Awning, Spyglass, Bristol
2003 clean, Clifton Down Shopping Centre, Bristol
2003 The Being Here, York Buildings, Bath
2002 The Art of Words, Fairfield Art Centre, Basingstoke
2001 Summer Lovin’, Blue Oyster Gallery, Dunedin, New Zealand
2000 work/place, Broad Street, Bristol
2000 Engaged, Chew and Show, Newcastle upon Tyne
1999 Off the Shelf, Sherbourne House, Sherbourne
1999 Bad Sense of Humour, The Bond Gallery, Birmingham
Invited Lectures/Presentations/Writing
2011 Manual For Marginal Places – Book Launch, S1 Artspace, Sheffield, UK
2009 Free Press – Three day workshop with five invited writers and resulting publication, organised as part of Trade Union.
2009 Plan 9, Bristol -Presentation to MA Visual Arts Practices students from IADT, Dublin.
2009 Plan 9, Bristol – Presentation to Contemporary Art Society members.
2008 Plan 9, Bristol – Presentation to MA Curating students from Falmouth University, UK.
2008 What, How and for Whom – Workshop with What, How and for Whom as part of their residency with Situations.
2008 Double Yes, Plan 9 – Exhibition text for solo show by Toby Huddlestone.
2008 Barrow College, Cumbria – Presentation of curatorial practice.
2008 Plymouth College of Art and Design -The underdogs – art/ists in unusual places’ 2 day symposium – presentation.
2007 BANA – Should Visual Art Receive Public Funding?, Bath. Panel discussion.
2007 Art Art Art – online magazine – Article – ‘Start Where?’ examining the threat of funding cuts on artist led organisations.
2007 Arnolfini, Bristol – Presentation as part of the book launch ‘Curating Subjects’ (ed Paul O’Neill).
2007 Cornwall College, Cambourne – Spring lecture series – Presentation.
2007 Spike Island Associate Scheme Launch – Presentation.
2006 Wig Wam Bam!, Plan 9 – Catalogue text.
2006 Gwent College, Newport – Visiting lecturer.
2006 Artsmatrix, The Watershed, Bristol – ‘Working on an artist-led project’ – workshop. ‘Curator to Artist: Shifting Dynamics of Current Curatorial Practice’ – Panel member.
2006 Brent Council Art Development Unit, London – ‘Negotiating Empty Spaces’ presentation.
2005 Networking Artists Network (a-n) south west networking event – Presentation on Plan 9.
2005 Industry & Idleness, Plan 9 – Catalogue text
Professional bodies
Jan 2006
Associate Scheme Steering Committee, Spike Island, Bristol
Oct 2005 to 2008
Bristol Visual Arts Consortium
Awards
2010
Arts Council England Grants for the Arts (Urban Retreat)
2008
Arts Council England Grants for the Arts (Plan 9 2008/09 programme)
Bristol City Council Public Art funding (Plan 9)
2007
ALIAS (Plan 9 Projects)
Networking Artists Network ‘Go See bursary (visiting artist led spaces in Berlin)
2006
Arts Council England Research & Development Grant
Arts Council England Grants for the Arts (Wig Wam Bam!)
2005
Arts Council England Grants for the Arts (Plan 9 2005 programme)
Bristol City Council ‘Year of Creativity’ Grant (Plan 9 2005 programme)
Networking Artists Network ‘Go See’ bursary (visiting artist groups in LA)
Education
2002–2005 MA Fine Art – University of the West of England, Bristol
1993–1996 BA (Hons) Fine Art in Context – University of the West of England, Bristol