Mia Fernandes
"I believe drawing to be the physical reality of the conscience; a verb describing the beginning of a process, a mode of thinking, communicating, and remembering. It is a moment in time, where the skills and the choices that the artist makes come to light."
Professional info
Mia has been working internationally as an artist forming drawings, installations, performance art and video in galleries and museums. Her career has been greatly influenced by the awards she has received from the Arts Council and Triangle Trust : An artist book sculpture project ‘Arriving at Indigo’, Kunming Gallery China Fellowship, Travel Fellowship to Peru, Tasara Residency India, and as artist in residence at the British School of Brussels.
As an artist educator Mia has been involved in the development of art education since 1993. As Senior Lecturer for various institutions, Bath Spa, Surrey University, she has also instigated community projects such as ‘Mark of Action’ and DIY ‘Circles of Memory’ and worked as a curator on exhibitions that focus on drawing, making and memory. She continues to teach and explore these ideas and is now living in the South of France.
Her works are in collections in the USA, China, Australia and Europe.
Education:
2009-2011: Research student MPhil/PhD Memory and Matter Royal College of Art
1996-1998: MA Ceramics & Glass Royal College of Art, London
1990-1993: BA (Hons)Craft Studies Goldsmiths College of London University
1989-1990: National Diploma in Art & Design Winchester School of Art
Selected Solo Exhibitions:
2019: Flights of Fancy, barbares, Figeac, France
2018: Moments in Time Winchester Guildhall, Winchester, UK
2017: Draw, Jardin de la Mothe, Salle Courbaittes, Aveyron, France
2011: Removal of Obstacles, Ganapati Restraunt, London
2003: Eat Me, Manze’s Pie Shop, Deptford X
Smile, Caspar Dunstan, London
2001: Eclectic, St Mary’s Church, Southampton
1999: Mia Fernandes, British School of Brussels, Belgium
1997: Beasts, The Gantry, Southampton
Display Case, Museum of Mankind, British Museum, London
Mia Fernandes, Touring Show: Hampshire Museum Galleries
1996: Far Away, Forest Arts Gallery, New Milton
1995: Preserved, The Gantry, Southampton
1994: Gallinaceous, The Gantry, Southampton & Ashcroft Art Centre
Selected Group Exhibitions:
2019: Contemporary Art3f, Bordeaux, France
Golden Time, Limogne en Quercy, France
2014: Degaine et Tirage, Nuage, Capdenac, France
2013-14: Decorazon Gallery, Singapore, Hong Kong, London.
2012: Crossing Borders, Susan Mumford art projects, Arkansas, USA, December
2012: Distilled Memory, Susan Mumford art projects, Pop-up Exhibition at the Framers Gallery, London
2011: Manfold Drawing Exhibition, Royal College of Art, London
2010: Research Exhibition, Royal College of Art, London
Protected Characteristics, Courtyard Galleries
Objects of Love, Lewisham Arthouse, London
Draw, Royal College of Art, London
Bedizzened, APT Gallery, London
Summer Exhibition, Mumford Fine Art, London
Summer Exhibition, Vitrine Gallery, London
2009: Rummage, Bermondsey Café Gallery, London
Matters of the Heart, Lewisham Arthouse, London
2008: Twilight, Bermondsey Café Gallery, London
Mark of Action, Drawing Gallery Lewisham
2007: Sugar in my tea, Brockley Max, London
Meme, Biscuit Factory, Bermondsey, London
2006: Shibboleth, Dilston Grove, Bermondsey, London
Banthum Open, Banthum, Devon
Made at the Clay Studio, Philadelphia Clay Studio, USA
2005: Archive & m&M, Lewisham Arthouse, London
2004: Winter Print, London Print Studio
Annual Open, Bermondsey Café Gallery, London
Presence, Houseroom Contemporary Art, Bath
Under 5’s, Gallery 39, London
Draw_draw, Gallery 32, London Biennale
Shuttlecock, Loft Gallery, Kunming, China, Arts Council & Triangle Trust
Auction Rainforest Foundation, Royal College of Music, London
2003: LAB’03 Artist Book ‘SMILE’, ICA, London
Big Draw, Natural History Museum, London
Off the Plinth, House Gallery Camberwell Arts Week
Fragility, Lewisham Arthouse, London
2002: Water Gallery, Chelsea Flower Show, London
Palimpsest/Palindrome, Lewisham Arthouse, London
2001: Animal, Artsway, Sway, New Forest
Deptford X, Lewisham Arthouse, London
2000: Big Draw, Lewisham Arthouse, London
Animals, Hampshire Sculpture Trust, Winchester
1999: Urban Romantics, Bargate, Southampton
Not Just Pots, Touring Show: Hampshire Museum Galleries
1998: Paper & Clay, Workplace Art Gallery, London
Cheltenham Drawing Open, Touring Show: Cheltenham, Berlin & Hull
Clay Creatures, Red Gallery, Hampshire
1997: Blue, Designers Guild, London
1996: Absolute Secret, Royal College of Art, London
Fabulous Beasts, Hampshire Sculpture Trust, Havant
1995: Arcadia, Sherbourne House, Southampton
Annual Open,Manchester Academy of Fine Arts
Commissions & Public Collections:
2012: Wish (2005), an installation piece comprising of 1,000 porcelain birds, in the Permanent Collection of
The Royal London Hospital (Barts and the London NHS Trust). Project managed by Vital Arts
2009: Ceramic wall mural, Kendra School, New Cross, London
Ceramic wall and garden sculpture, Bermondsey Park, Southwark Council
2007: Research for the blue line, Travel from Quito to Cusco, South America
Movement & Memory, Bermondsey Café Gallery, London
2004: Artist designed drawing activity, Big Draw Tate Modern, London
2000: Evolution of all Creatures Great & Small, Public Art Denbigh Mews, Portobello
Sculpture commission and workshop, English Nature, Winchester Hill
1998-99: Artist workshop & Commission, Walled Garden, Basingstoke & Deane Council
1995: Ceramic Installation Commission, NCH Action for Children, Abergele
Awards:
2007: Travel Scholarship Peru, Arts Council
2006: Jacob Mendelson Award for Kiss Me, Jacob Mendelson Scholarship Trust
2005: New York Drawing Centre, Slide Index. Drawing: Response to Environment, Kingston University.
2004: Made in China, Resonance FM
1998: Drawing Award, Cheltenham Drawing Open
Residencies and Fellowships:
2006: Artist in Residence, Lewisham Hospital, London
2005: Guest Artist in Residence, Philadelphia Clay Studio, USA
2004: Artist Fellowship Arts Council & Triangle Trust, Loft Gallery, Kunming, China
Salon Reading of ‘Smile’ for Louise Bourgeois
2000: Artist in Residence, Tasara, Kerala, India
1998-99: Artist in Residence, The British School of Brussels, Belgium
1998: Sponsor, Royal Worcester: A-Z Endangered Animals
1994-95: Artist in Residence, Howell’s School, Denbigh, Clwyd
1994: Sculptor in Residence, Burseldon Brickwork’s Hants Preservation Trust
Publications and Press:
2008: 500 Ceramic Sculpture, Lark Books, USA
Deptford X in Deptford X Catalogue
London Mark of Action in Newshopper, February 13
2007: Shibboleth Catalogue, Counter-Print
2005-06: Arriving at Indigo Artist Book, Arts Council England
2004: Shuttlecock in Kunming News, June 2nd
2003: Smile Artist Book, Counter-Print
Mia Fernandes, www.spiralmuse.org, May and June Feature
All Fired up and Original in Ceramic Review, July
All Fired up and Original in Metro, July 17th
Off the Plinth in Ceramic Review, July/ August
1999: Not Just Pots in Hampshire Chronicle, June 15
Not Just Pots in Ceramic Review, September
1998: Studio Practice in The Artist, November
1997: Mia Fernandes in Hampshire Chronicle, October 24
Teaching:
2014-2020 Teaching Art & English Schools & commerce of Aveyron, France
2010 Lectuerer BA (Hons) 3D Design: Havering College
2009 Makers Course: Lewisham Arthouse, London
Visiting Lecturer MA Design Makers: Camberwell College of Arts
2008-09 Artist at Gayhurst Primary School; Caboodle Arts, London
2008 Slide Presentation: Banthum Forum, Dorset
Slide Presentation: Arts Council, Westminster.
2006-09 Artist at Southborough Primary School: Caboodle Arts, London
2001-05 Senior Lecturer BA/BScArt for Public Space:Roehampton University
Tutor M.Res Art Studies: Roehampton University of Surrey
Artist Workshop Outreach project: Philadelphia Clay Studio
Slide presentation: Temple University, Philadelphia, USA
2004-08 Workshop Artist: DIY, Café Gallery Projects, London
2004 Slide presentation: Gasworks, London
Slide presentation MADE IN CHINA: Lewisham Arthouse, London
Slide presentation: Loft Gallery & Yunnan University, Kunming, China
Slide presentation: New Jersey College, New Jersey, USA
2002 Lecturer for 3rd Yr. BA(Hons) 3D Design: Bath Spa University
2000- Big Draw – National Campaign: V&A, Natural History, British Museum, Trafalgar Square, Workshop Artist & co-ordinator of events: Lewisham Arthouse
2000-01 Lecturer Art & Design: Richmond Upon Thames College
1998 Lecturer for BA (Hons) Visual Arts: Cheltenham & Gloucester College
Lecturer BA (Hons) Ceramics: Loughborough College of Art & Design
1997 Lecturer & Artist: Mackerere University, Uganda
Lecturer & Artist: ARCO, Lisbon, Portugal
Art Educational workshops & lectures:Hampshire Museum Services
1995-96 Tutor for photography, painting & drawing: Oaklands Community School, Southampton, Sculpture Workshops: Eastleigh Council, Horsham District
Council, West Sussex County Council, Eastleigh Museum, The Gantry
1995 Arts & Craft Tutor: NCH Action for Children, Abergele, Wales
1994 Ceramic SLD Tutor: Eastleigh Technical College, Hampshire
1993-94 Tutor for sculpture, painting, drawing, textiles & photography: Barton Peveril College, Hampshire