Hi, I'm Kirsty Hall, a disabled artist based in the lovely town of Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire.
I describe myself as 'an artist and purveyor of obsessive projects' for reasons that will quickly become apparent if you check out my gallery pages.
I am prone to all-consuming art projects that take years to complete. My family likes to say that I'm never happy unless I'm doing something until my fingers fall off. This hasn't actually happened yet but when I was tying thousands of knots in string I did get some nasty blisters.
At the moment, I'm obsessed with large textile sculptures, handmade artists' books, art journalling and a series of tiny artworks on business cards called The Happenstance Project. Instagram is the best place to get up to date information on what I'm making.
Unfortunately I have MECFS, which has seriously impacted both my life and my art career. I'm also currently recovering from cancer and the resulting chemo and radiotherapy. Thankfully the cancer has been cured (fingers crossed that it stays gone!) but as you can see from my CV below, it resulted in a lot less exhibiting over the last five years.
Due to my health, I'm mostly housebound, however, I still make art every single day.
Kirsty Hall: CV
Education
First Class BA Hons in Sculpture, University of Gloucestershire, 1999 - 2002
Solo Shows
2011
365 Jars, Various locations + The Internet
2009
Pin Ritual, Prick Your Finger, London
2007
The Diary Project, The Internet
2006
Broken Threads,, HERE Gallery, Bristol
Selected Group Exhibitions and Performances
2022
Repair, The Open Dresser Gallery, Kent
2021
Big Small Summer Open, Small House Gallery, London
Totterdown Arts Trail Retrospective, Bristol
2019
Hebden Bridge Open Studios, Hebden Bridge
2016
Shoddy, Live Art Bistro, Leeds
2013
Haberdashery, Hebden Bridge.
2011
Disruptive Stillness, Slusser Gallery, University of Michigan
2010
52, Room 212, Bristol
2009
Front Room Arts Trail, Bristol
2007
Threads of Meaning, Chapel Gallery, Ormskirk
2006
Penitent Glass, Performance Evening, Tortworth
Temporary, March Town Hall, March, Cambridgeshire
2005
24 Frames a Second, HERE Gallery, Bristol
Round The Houses, Clifton Art Trail, Bristol
Knit One, Build One, HERE Gallery, Bristol
2004
Perpendicular, St Nicholas Church, Gloucester
Out of the Blue, HERE Gallery, Bristol
Blue Sky Thinking, Stroud Valleys Artspace, Stroud
Food, Glorious Food, 20-21 Visual Arts Centre, Scunthorpe
2003
Cubicle Performance Evening, Cube, Bristol
Diving Deep, Greenbelt Festival, Cheltenham
Chapter and Verse, All Saints Church, Cheltenham
Speaking Volumes, Stroud House Gallery, Stroud
2002
Greenbelt Art Prize, Greenbelt Festival, Cheltenham
Test Tube, Stroud Valley Artspace, Stroud
Degree Show, University of Gloucestershire, Cheltenham
Revelation, FCH Chapel, Cheltenham
Curating Experience
Sadly I am no longer able to curate due to my health, but when I could, this is what I did...
2013
Curator: Haberdashery in the shop windows of Hebden Bridge.
2007
Co-curator: Ghosts of Borley - HERE Gallery, Bristol
2006
Curator: Twisted: Knitting on the Edge - HERE Gallery, Bristol
Co-curator: Mulling Over The Difference Of The Other - HERE Gallery, Bristol
Curator: Broken Threads - HERE Gallery, Bristol
2005
Curator: Knit One, Build One - HERE Gallery, Bristol
2004
Co-curator: Out of the Blue - HERE Gallery, Bristol
Co-curator: Blue Sky Thinking - SVA, Stroud
2003
Curator: Diving Deep - Greenbelt Festival, Cheltenham
Initiator and co-organiser: The Numinous Impulse
A one day conference exploring the links between art and spirituality held at the University of Gloucestershire
Head Curator: Chapter and Verse exhibition, All Saints Church, Cheltenham
2002
Curator: Greenbelt Art Prize, Greenbelt Festival, Cheltenham
Professional Groups
Member of Bristol Creatives, 2009 - 2011
Member of Textile Forum South West, 2009 - 2011
Member of Spike Island Associates, 2007 - 2011
Member of the HERE gallery committee, 2004 - 2007
Founder and chair of Ilka, a Gloucestershire based artists' group, June 2002 - Dec 2005