Matthew Higgs
Encyclopedia
Matthew Higgs is a British
artist, curator, writer and publisher. His contribution to UK contemporary art has included the creation of Imprint 93, a series of artists’ editions featuring the work of artists such as Martin Creed
and Jeremy Deller
. During the 1990s he promoted artists outside of the Young British Artists
mainstream of the period.
in 1964, and studied Fine Art at Newcastle Polytechnic.(since renamed the University of Northumbria) In 1988, he moved to London
and worked for the Grey advertising agency.
In 1993, he founded his own press, Imprint 93, publishing a series of artist’s editions and multiples. Participating artists included: Billy Childish
, Martin Creed
, Chris Ofili
, Elizabeth Peyton
, Peter Doig
and Jeremy Deller
.
In 1994, Higgs exhibited at EASTinternational
which was selected by Jan Dibbets
and Rudi Fuchs. The exhibition "Imprint 93/Cabinet Gallery", featuring the work of Martin Creed, was held at Cabinet Gallery in 1994. "Imprint 93/City Racing" was held at City Racing
in 1995.
". This major touring exhibition sought to show that British art embraced a wider range of practices than was indicated by the label "Young British Artists"
His exhibition "Protest and Survive" (curated with Paul Noble
) at the Whitechapel Art Gallery in 2000 reflected a renewed interest in the art of the 1970s.
In 2001, he described a new aesthetics emerging in British art, pointing to the work of Turner Prize
nominees Mike Nelson
and Martin Creed. He described these artists as part of a "parallel generation to the YBAs", and bemoaned that fact that younger artists were "still adhering to the YBA orthodoxy promoted by Charles Saatchi
".
at the California College of Arts and Crafts
.
He is currently director of White Columns
in New York. In 2006, he was one of the Turner Prize judges and in 2007 he selected EASTinternational
with Marc Camille Chaimowicz. Higgs is a member of the New Art Dealers Alliance
.
As an artist Higgs has had one-person exhibitions, such as at the Wilkinson Gallery in London. His work is held in the collection of the Tate
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
artist, curator, writer and publisher. His contribution to UK contemporary art has included the creation of Imprint 93, a series of artists’ editions featuring the work of artists such as Martin Creed
Martin Creed
Martin Creed is an artist and musician. He won the Turner Prize in 2001 for Work No. 227: the lights going on and off, which was an empty room in which the lights went on and off.-Life and work :...
and Jeremy Deller
Jeremy Deller
Jeremy Deller is an English conceptual, video and installation artist. He is a Turner Prize winner.Deller is best-known for his Battle of Orgreave , a reenactment of the actual Battle of Orgreave which occurred during the UK miners' strike in 1984.-Life and work:Jeremy Deller was born in London,...
. During the 1990s he promoted artists outside of the Young British Artists
Young British Artists
Young British Artists or YBAs is the name given to a loose group of visual artists who first began to exhibit together in London, in 1988...
mainstream of the period.
Early life and Imprint 93
Higgs was born in West YorkshireWest Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
in 1964, and studied Fine Art at Newcastle Polytechnic.(since renamed the University of Northumbria) In 1988, he moved to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and worked for the Grey advertising agency.
In 1993, he founded his own press, Imprint 93, publishing a series of artist’s editions and multiples. Participating artists included: Billy Childish
Billy Childish
Billy Childish is an English artist, painter, author, poet, photographer, film maker, singer and guitarist...
, Martin Creed
Martin Creed
Martin Creed is an artist and musician. He won the Turner Prize in 2001 for Work No. 227: the lights going on and off, which was an empty room in which the lights went on and off.-Life and work :...
, Chris Ofili
Chris Ofili
Chris Ofili is a Turner Prize winning British painter best known for artworks referencing aspects of his Nigerian heritage, particularly his incorporation of elephant dung. He was one of the Young British Artists, and is now based in Trinidad.-Early life:Ofilli was born in Manchester. He had a...
, Elizabeth Peyton
Elizabeth Peyton
Elizabeth Joy Peyton is an American painter who rose to popularity in the mid-1990s. She is a contemporary artist best known for stylized and idealized portraits of her close friends and boyfriends, pop celebrities, and European monarchy...
, Peter Doig
Peter Doig
Peter Doig is a contemporary artist born in Scotland. In 2007, a painting of Doig's, entitled White Canoe, sold at Sotheby's for $11.3 million, then an auction record for a living European artist.-Early life:...
and Jeremy Deller
Jeremy Deller
Jeremy Deller is an English conceptual, video and installation artist. He is a Turner Prize winner.Deller is best-known for his Battle of Orgreave , a reenactment of the actual Battle of Orgreave which occurred during the UK miners' strike in 1984.-Life and work:Jeremy Deller was born in London,...
.
In 1994, Higgs exhibited at EASTinternational
EASTinternational
EASTinternational is an open submission exhibition that was launched in 1991 and takes place at the Norwich University College of the Arts. Applications from over 1,000 contemporary artists are received each year with approximately 25-30 artists selected to exhibit...
which was selected by Jan Dibbets
Jan Dibbets
Jan Dibbets , is a Dutch conceptual artist.In 1994, he was commissioned by the Arago Association to create a memorial to the French astronomer François Arago, known as Hommage à Arago...
and Rudi Fuchs. The exhibition "Imprint 93/Cabinet Gallery", featuring the work of Martin Creed, was held at Cabinet Gallery in 1994. "Imprint 93/City Racing" was held at City Racing
City Racing
City Racing was an artist run space in Kennington, South London which was active between 1988 and 1998. It was a cooperative by five artists Matt Hale, Paul Noble, John Burgess, Keith Coventry and Peter Owen. They set up the gallery in a former betting shop near the Oval cricket ground, hence the...
in 1995.
"British Art Show 5" and "Protest and Survive"
In 2000, he curated the "British Art Show 5British Art Show
The British Art Show is a major survey exhibition organised every five years to showcase contemporary British Art. The current exhibition in the series, referred to as BAS6, is touring a number of major cities within England in 2005 and 2006. Each time it is organised, the show tours to three UK...
". This major touring exhibition sought to show that British art embraced a wider range of practices than was indicated by the label "Young British Artists"
His exhibition "Protest and Survive" (curated with Paul Noble
Paul Noble
Paul Noble is a British artist, born in 1963 in the village of Dilston, Northumberland. He studied at Humberside College of Higher Education and Sunderland Polytechnic , before moving to London in 1987. He was one of the five founder members of the co-operative who formed the City Racing gallery...
) at the Whitechapel Art Gallery in 2000 reflected a renewed interest in the art of the 1970s.
In 2001, he described a new aesthetics emerging in British art, pointing to the work of Turner Prize
Turner Prize
The Turner Prize, named after the painter J. M. W. Turner, is an annual prize presented to a British visual artist under the age of 50. Awarding the prize is organised by the Tate gallery and staged at Tate Britain. Since its beginnings in 1984 it has become the United Kingdom's most publicised...
nominees Mike Nelson
Mike Nelson (artist)
Michael "Mike" Nelson is a contemporary British installation artist. He represented Britain at the Venice Biennale in 2011. Nelson has twice been nominated for the Turner Prize: first in 2001 , and again in 2007 .-Working practice:Nelson's installations typically exist only for the time period...
and Martin Creed. He described these artists as part of a "parallel generation to the YBAs", and bemoaned that fact that younger artists were "still adhering to the YBA orthodoxy promoted by Charles Saatchi
Charles Saatchi
Charles Saatchi is the co-founder with his brother Maurice of the global advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi, and led that business - the world's largest advertising agency in the 1980s - until they were forced out in 1995. In the same year the Saatchi brothers formed a new agency called M&C...
".
Career after 2000
In 2001, he was appointed as a curator at the Wattis Institute for Contemporary ArtsWattis Institute for Contemporary Arts
The Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts is a contemporary art center in San Francisco, California, United States and part of the California College of the Arts....
at the California College of Arts and Crafts
California College of the Arts
California College of the Arts , founded in 1907, is known for its broad, interdisciplinary programs in art, design, architecture, and writing. It has two campuses, one in Oakland and one in San Francisco, California, USA...
.
He is currently director of White Columns
White Columns
White Columns is New York City’s oldest alternative non-profit space and one of its most prestigious. White Columns is known as a show case for up and coming artists....
in New York. In 2006, he was one of the Turner Prize judges and in 2007 he selected EASTinternational
EASTinternational
EASTinternational is an open submission exhibition that was launched in 1991 and takes place at the Norwich University College of the Arts. Applications from over 1,000 contemporary artists are received each year with approximately 25-30 artists selected to exhibit...
with Marc Camille Chaimowicz. Higgs is a member of the New Art Dealers Alliance
New Art Dealers Alliance
The New Art Dealers Alliance is a not-for-profit arts organization founded in 2002 that supports collaboration and the exchange of information between its members. Membership extends to invited galleries, curators and gallery directors...
.
As an artist Higgs has had one-person exhibitions, such as at the Wilkinson Gallery in London. His work is held in the collection of the Tate
Tate
-Places:*Tate, Georgia, a town in the United States*Tate County, Mississippi, a county in the United States*Táté, the Hungarian name for Totoi village, Sântimbru Commune, Alba County, Romania*Tate, Filipino word for States...
.