An introduction to: Gillian MacFarland - Arts Practitioner
Gillian McFarland - Visual Artist
Gillian Adair McFarland is an artist with a strong track record in arts, health and public engagement. Her practice centres around enquiry through process and collaboration with an interest in the methodologies of creating. Exploring and questioning potentials motivates her actions – pushing the invisible or blurred into focus through the reviewing of impact and occurrences .
Her work is influenced by science, the natural world and the exploration of potentials. The archaeology of her marks or curated objects, their material culture invites investigation and the desire in the viewer to draw closer, to connect in understanding. The potential for breaking down barriers through cross disciplinary working particularly excites her.
A graduate of St Martin’s School of Art, she has been involved in several science based residencies, was Artist in Residence at De Montfort University and Honorary Research Fellow in the school of Genetics at UoL.
Gillian is a regular exhibitor at the Leicester Society of Artists, Berlin Science Festival, the Royal Scottish Academy and the Affordable Art Fair. She exhibits internationally and is the recipient of several awards for her work. She is also a state registered Arts therapist with 14 yrs previous employment in NHS acute psychiatric setting. McFarland is a professional member of the Society of Scottish Artists and Leicester Society of Artists. She has been involved in numerous science based residencies and appointed Honorary Research Fellow in the school of Genetics at Leicester University. One of the recipients in the first wave of the new Arts Council Developing your Creative Practice Grants she has undertaken a period of research in London at the Royal Astronomical Society, Greenwich Observatory , and Science Museum, London.
One of her projects -Creativity and Curiosity – conversations between artists and Astronomers has been selected for Art of the Cosmos – 30 years of the Hubble: an international art exhibition in Pasadena in May – July 2020
For more information on Gillian and her work please visit
www.creativityandcuriosity.com