Sean Edwards

Overview

Sean Edwards, born in Cardiff 1980, graduated with an MA from the Slade School of Art in 2005, and is currently Programme Director for Fine Art & Photography at Cardiff School of Art and Design.

Sean Edwards’ work investigates the sculptural and political potential of the everyday, often using remnants and fragments of previous activities as a starting point. In many of the works there is a sense of objects being in-progress, indeterminate and open to change. The work intertwines simple sculptural objects, mixed media installations and audio visual components with personal family and political histories. Edwards was recently awarded the 2020 Turner Pr ize Bursary for his installation Undo Things Done for the Welsh Pavilion at the 2019 Venice Biennale, which addressed austerity, class, shame and loss.

The work responded to the artist's own experiences of growing up on a council estate, and included a live radio play produced with National Theatre Wales performed every day for 7 months by the artist's mother from her home in Cardiff. The radio play was later adapted for BBC Radio 4.

Edwards represented Wales at the 58th Venice Biennale (2019) and was awarded the Turner Prize Bursary in 2020. He has been selected for the British Art Show 9 and has exhibited extensively nationally and internationally.

Forthcoming solo exhibitions include: Temple Bar Gallery, Dublin (2022), Tanya Leighton, Berlin (2021), and the continuation of the touring work for Wales in Venice: Undo Things Done, with presentations at Senedd, Cardiff.

Recent solo exhibitions include: Bluecoat, Liverpool; Ty Pawb, Wrexham (both 2020). Further solo exhibitions include: Netwerk, Aalst; Limoncello, London (both 2014); Chapter, Cardiff (2013); Kunstverein Freiburg (2012) and Spike Island (2011). His work has been included in group shows at Copperfield Gallery, London (2019); Limoncello, Woodbridge (2016); Sies + Höke, Düsseldorf (2016); Casa Museo Ivan Bruschi, Arezzo (2015); Centre Pompidou, Paris (2015); Transmission Gallery, Glasgow (2015); ); Standpoint Gallery, London (2012); 3rd Athens Biennale 2011; Lisson Gallery, London (2009); Tanya Bonakdar, New York (2007) and Angel Row Gallery, Nottingham (2007).

In addition to his exhibiting practice Edwards undertakes public artwork commissions and is currently producing two new works in Cambridge and Brecon (both UK). Previous commissions have included a large scale public artwork exploring space and sound for the University of South Wales, Cardiff (UK).

Sean Edwards' published output includes artist's books, produced and distributed in the UK and internationally:'unununununun' (2021) published by Bluecoat Gallery, Liverpool, 'Undo Things Done' (2019), pub. Ty pawb, and Bluecoat Gallery; 'Gilfach Quilters' (2013), pub. Ffotogallery, Cardiff; 'For Lal (or Henry)' (2012), pub. The Block, London and 'Maelfa' (2010), pub. Bedford Press, London.