JAMES JOHNSON-PERKINS
BIOGRAPHY AND ARCHIVE
ARCHIVE
RESIDENCIES & WORKSHOPS
PUBLIC ART
RESEARCH
MEDIA ARCHIVE
ARTWORK
EXHIBITIONS
Johnson-Perkins has exhibited widely across Europe, Asia and the Americas, including presentations at Ars Electronica in Linz and twice at the Venice Biennale, and his recent inclusion in Jaipur Arts Week (2026) signals the continued expansion of his international presence.
His exhibition history spans experimental and institutional contexts, including The GenAI Summit at ArtX Gallery and The Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, Post Digital Reality at the Video Art International Festival in Austria, and Nord Art in Germany. Further presentations include The Emily Harvey Foundation (Venice), The Royal College of Art (London), The Centre for Contemporary Art (Glasgow), The Chinese European Art Centre (Xiamen), Toyota Museum of Modern Art (Japan), Czong Institute for Contemporary Art (Seoul), The Patan Museum (Kathmandu), Austin Museum of Digital Art, and The Arts Students League (New York).
Johnson-Perkins has been involved in over 50 group events and he has exhibited alongside a huge variety of international artists including: Alison Knowles, A-YO, Ben Voutier, Gustav Metzger, Sean Scully, Littlewhitehead, Andre Stitt, Michael Nyman, Bill Drummond, Bob and Roberta Smith, Vlad Monroe, Gabriela Fridriksdottir, Alan Kane, Matt Stokes, Matthew Cowan, Robin Klassnik, Juneau Projects, Ross Sinclair, and Antony Gormley.
EDUCATIONAL, GALLERY AND RESIDENCY WORK
Educational and Gallery Work
Johnson-Perkins currently works on the Art and Design courses at Winchester School of Art, UK, and is a visiting tutor at Arts University Bournemouth. He has also recently worked as a Gallery Ambassador at the John Hansard Gallery, Southampton, UK.
Internationally from 2014 to 2022, he was a Senior Tutor for Content A (CELE) and Module Convener for Art and Design courses at the University of Nottingham Ningbo, China (www.nottingham.edu.cn/en). He was also a visiting lecturer at Xiamen University, China (www.art.xmu.edu.cn).
Johnson-Perkins worked in the Middle East as Course Director of BA Fine Art at the Scientific College of Design, Oman (www.scd.edu.com), in 2011–12. Between 2012 and 2014, he worked as Pathway Leader for the Foundation Fine Art course and as a BA Fine Art Lecturer at the British Higher School of Art and Design (also known as Universal University), Moscow, Russia (britishdesign.ru/en).
In 2006/7 he was the Director of Novellus Castellum, an art organisation, in Newcastle/Gateshead, UK. This organised a two-year program of arts events and curated a large exhibition space in a disused warehouse in the East End of Newcastle. Novellus Castellum was also part of the Curatorial Biennale at Apex Arts, New York, USA. Aug 2007. (www.novelluscastellum.blogspot.com)
In 2006 he was also a co-founder of Newcastle’s The Star and Shadow, Cinema. This is one of the leading UK independent cinemas, which has been written about extensively in the UK national press. As well as being instrumental in the set up of this venue, He also, over 5 years, curated here, a series of artist video anthologies, film events and exhibitions. (www.starandshadow.org.uk)
At the start of his teaching/lecturing career from 2002 he has worked as a Lecturer at Gateshead College (www.gateshead.ac.uk), he was also a Teaching Fellow at Northumbria University (www.northumbria.ac.uk) and worked as a Freelance Arts Facilitator at The Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art. (www.baltic.art)
BIOGRAPHY
BIOGRAPHY
Exhibitions Selected Group
2025
Photographic Urges, Galleria Arnold Manda, South Africa
Escola Guignard Gallery, Video Works, Belo Horizonte, Brasil
The Dali Museum, St Petersberg, Florida, USA
Human Echoes: Beyond the Digital Horizon & Post Digital Reality, Video Art International Streaming Festival, Austria
2024
The GenAI Summit, ArtX Gallery, San Francisco, The Palace of Fine Arts, USA
Post Digital Reality, Video Art International Streaming Festival, Austria
Nord Art, Budelsdorf, Germany
Free Art Fair, POPOP, Taipei, Taiwan
2023
Lift off Global Shorts, London, UK
Self as Service XOR Space pavilion at the 6th edition of The Wrong Biennale Butterfly Transformation Beijing International Design Week Zhang Jiawan Design Center. TongZhou, Beijing, China
Material Thinking, International Contemporary Art Bienalle, Hatian Sky Art Centre, Quingdao /Beijing Nanchizi Museum, China
Inner World, Ely Centre of Contemporary Art, USA
2022
Limitless, Florence Contemporary Gallery, Italy Czong Institute for Contemporary Art (CICA) Gyeonggi-do, South Korea Tsinghua University, Beijing/Haitian Sky Art Centre, Quigdao, China
Rotterdam Photo Festival, Holland
2021
Change, Modern *8 Pier, Mykolaiv, Ukraine
Ars Electronica .ART Gallery x VR-All-Ar, Linz, Austria
The Mediterranean Contemporary Art Prize, Monteserico Castle, Italy
Boundaries, Bekarei Video Art Space, Berlin, Germany Ctrl+ (In Collaboration with Teng Long), Beijing 2102 Gallery, China
Untamed: On Wilderness and Civilization, The Alpine Fellowship symposium, Fjällnäs, Sweden
International Forum of Performance Art, Drama, Greece
Austral Festival Internacional de Performance Art de Buenos Aires, Argentina
2019
Rolling Snowball, Organised by Chinese European Arts Centre AMNUA, The Art Museum of Nanjing University of the Arts, Nanjing, China
2017
The Quickest Distance is Not Always Via a Straight Line, The Wrong Bienalle
The Reserrection of Cosmicman (With Dina Johnson-Perkins), The City Gallery, Peterborough, UK
2016
BodySpace, Hangzhou Public Library, China
2015
I AM, 9 Arbat St, Moscow, Russia
2014
DIY Reality, 17 Nastavichesky, Moscow, Russia When Suspicions are Becoming the Norm, FABRIKA, in association with Triumph Gallery, Moscow, Russia
2013
The Legacy of Emily Harvey, Curated by Berty Skuber & Henry Martin, Emily Harvey Foundation Archive Exhibition, Venice Biennale Papyri Guestbook and Similar Departures, Emily Harvey Foundation, Venice, Italy
2012
KC Dunaj, Bratislava, Slovakia Strange Objects on a Lawn, Scientific College of Design, Muscat, Oman
Dinefwr Festival, Gwly Lendyyiaeth, Wales
Portrait to Portrait, (Antonio Nodar), Vol. 2, Patan Museum, Kathmandu, Nepal
Phelwidek Photo 12, Artbázis Gallery, Budapest, Hungary
2011
Bus Stop Venice, curated by Elysium Gallery, Venice Biennale, Galleria Perela, Italy
Bus Stop, Elysium Gallery, Swansea, Wales, UK Sturovo Super Hero Society, The Hay-On-Wye Festival, Wales, UK
2010
Athens Photo Festival 10 (In collaboration with Domosthenes Agrafiotis), Athens, Greece
Wolf and Badger/Salon Contemporary, Selfridges Department Store, Oxford St, London, UK
2009
Building with Colour, Curated by Professor Helen Baker, Gallery North, Northumbria University, UK
Greatings Programs, (In collaboration with Conor Lawless), Tron, Glasgow, UK
Digital Showcase, Austin Museum of Digital Art, Austin, Texas, USA Attitude, Center for Contemporary Public Arts, Bitola, Macedonia
2008
Video Art and Architecture VI, National Centre for Contemporary Art, Moscow, Russia
Illuminators International, (In collaboration with Conor Lawless), Yekaterinburg Koltsovo Airport, Russia Urban Identity, Monkey town, Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York, USA
Harry Smith Anthology Remixed, (In collaboration with Matthew Cowan), Curated by Rebecca Shatwell, The Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA), Glasgow, UK
Robots, Durham International Festival of Art, Durham, UK
2007
Digital Long Island Media Festival, IMAC Theater, New York, USA The International Experimental Film Festival, Florean Museum, Baia Mare, Romania
Video Art & Architecture III, The Cultural Communication Centre of Klaipeda, Lithuania
Video Art & Architecture II, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
2006
First Play Berlin, Hau 2, Berlin, Germany
2005
Nostos, (In collaboration with Nicholas John Montgomery), Northern Lights Film Festival, Side Cinema, Newcastle, UK
2004 Lux Artist Film, The Royal College, London, UK
Video Art & Architecture I, Culteral el Molino Atomic, Barcelona, Spain
2003
Crossovers Japan, Curated by Tomomi Iguchi, Toyota Museum of Art, International House, Kyoto, Japan
Exhibitions Selected Solo
2026
Jaipur Arts Week 5, India
2025
Inside/Outside, Merz Gallery, Scotland
2024
La Maison De Barbara, Ayvalik, Turkey
2018
Hula, The University of Nottingham, Ningbo, China
2017
Indefinite Memories, Liangzhu Culture Centre, Hangzhou, China (Curated by Zhanna Khromykh)
2015
Please Wait Whilst...Monkey Magic Sings Chinese Covers of 80's Pop Classics in Times Square, The Chinese European Art Centre, Xiamen, China
2014
The Starry Sky Lights Up Because of You, The University of Nottingham, Ningbo, China
2013
The Great Battle, ARTPLAY, Roland Academy, Moscow, Russia
2012
Back to the Future, Arts Student League of New York, USA
2011
The Box, Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Wales, UK
The Sturovo Super Hero Society, The Bridge Guard Residency, stúrovo, Slovakia
2010
New Works, The Emily Harvey Foundation, Venice, Italy
Who Killed Top of The Pops, Nospace, Bangkok, Thailand Robot Invasion, The Public, West Bromwich, UK
2009
Retro Robot, Kube Gallery (Now Poole Museum), Poole, Dorset, UK
Cecil Sharp House, with Sarah Foque
Pixel Talk, Art Gene, Barrow-in-Furnace, Cumbria, UK Meteoric Toy, DLI Musuem Gallery, Durham, UK
2008
Urban Art Show, Foundry, London, UK How Does it Feel?, Nospace, Bangkok, Thailand
50 Robots, Exhibit Gallery, London, UK
Robot Dreams, Red Gallery, Hull, UK
2007
Turn me On, Waygood Gallery (Now BALTIC39), Newcastle, UK
2006
Jet Pack, The UK Arts Council, Newcastle, UK
Residencies
2025
MERZ, Sanquhar, Scotland
2024
La Maison De Barbara Residency, Ayvalik, Turkey
2021
Belgrade Arts Studio, Serbia
Correlation Contemporary, Lima, Peru
2019
The British School at Rome, Italy
2017
The Emily Harvey Foundation, Venice, Italy (Third Appointment)
2015
The Chinese European Art Centre, Xiamen, China
2014
The Emily Harvey Foundation, Venice, Italy (Second Appointment)
2012
The Art Student League of New York, USA
The Kathmadu Contemporary Art Centre at the Patan Museum, Kathmandu, Nepal
2011
Coachwerks, Brighton, UK
The Bridge Guard Residency, Stúrovo, Slovakia
2010
The Emily Harvey Foundation, Venice, Italy
2007
Rednile (In Collaboration with Conor Lawless), Sunderland, UK
2003
Kyoto Seika University, Kyoto, Japan
Presentations
2026
King Edward VI School, Southampton, UK
2025
Merz, Scotland
2024
La Maison De Barbara Residency, Ayvalik, Turkey
Itchen College, Southampton, UK
2021
Belgrade Arts Studio, Serbia
2020
Bracing for the storm: Online Vs Face to Face (KEYNOTE SPEAKER) International Conference on Teaching, Education & Learning, Seoul, South Korea, 19th-20th May
2019
An account of: Teaching, Learning and Management at Nottingham University, Ningbo, China, TERA (Teaching Education and Research Association), Bali, Indonesia, 18th-19th December
2018
The Chinese Academy of Art, Hangzhou, China
Xiamen University, China
2016
The University of Nottingham, Ningbo, China
2015
Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
2014
Yale University (NUS), Singapore
2012
The Art Student League of New York, USA
2011
The Bridge Guard, Stúrovo, Slovakia
2009
Building With Colour Symposium, Northumbria University, UK
2007
Apexart, Curatorial Biennial, New York, USA
2006
Novellus Castellum, Newcastle, UK
2002
Whitechapel Art Gallery, London, UK Curation
Media
2026
Architectural Digest, Jan
Lux Magazine, Feb
2025
Artist Monograph, Margin Press
50 Artists to Discover, Florence Contemporary Art Press, Italy
2024
Visual Arts Journal, Sep
Magazineum Magazine, Apr
2023
Beijing News, Nov
Butterfly Transformation Beijing International Design Week, Exhibition Video Review, Nov
2022
LandEscape Magazine, Nov
Artupmi, Magazine, Italy, Feb
2021
Aerogramme, Vol 2, Issue 1, USA, Nov Boss Magazine, China, Sep
Al-Tiba19 Magazine, Spain, Oct
2020
Traquil Waves of Teaching, Learning and Management. People: Journal of Social Sciences, Vol. 6 No. 1, May
Photo Art Podcast (JAMES JOHNSON-PERKINS, PETER KENNARD, IOANNA SAKELLARAKI & HEIKO SCHMIDT), Jamie House, Aug
2019
10 Years, BSR Film, Italy, Margin Productions, Nov
2018
Murze Magazine. Issue 3, Nov
2017
Moment Magazine, Aug
The Quickest Distance is Not Always Via a Straight Line, The Wrong Bienalle, Catalogue
Rapsodia Magazine, Italy, Fall/December ISBN 2532-1838
In Conversation with Dr Helen Adkins Film, The Emily Harvey Foundation, Jul
Indefinite Memories Film, China, Margin Productions, Jul
A5 Magazine, August United Projects Newsletter, Aug/Sep
2016
International Journal of Scientific Research and Innovative Technology ISSN 2313-3759, Vol., No. 4
Ningbo Focus Magazine, Apr
2015
Xiamen News, China, Website 28/7/2015
Ningbo University Press, China, May
2012
PTC2, Serbian TV
2011
Wave Radio, Czech Republic, Mar
2010
Athens Photo Festival 10, Greece, Exhibition Catalogue
Digimag Magazine, Italy, May
BBC West Midland TV, 'Today Program' News Feature, UK, TX 9/2/10 West Bromwich, Express and Star, UK
2009
The Northern Echo, March, UK Bournmouth Echo, Jul, UK
Artrabbit, UK 'Teaching out of the box', Teachers TV - TX 2,3,4/6/09
Supersweet Magazine, UK, Feb
Building with Colour, Catalogue, Gallery North, Northumbria University, ISBN 0-9561206-0-1
The Guardian, UK, 11/1/09 The Crack Magazine, UK, 1/1/09
2008
The Metro, UK, 9/5/08
BK Magazine, Thailand, 8/5/08
Relavant Magazine, Barcelona, Spain, Mar
Fefe Magazine, 6th Edition, Rome, Italy, Mar
art, art, art Magazine, UK, Mar
The Chronicle, UK, 18/5/07 2007
Sunday New York Times, USA, 10/11/07
Sunday Long Island Newsday, P3, USA, 10/11/07
The Chronicle, UK, 18/5/07
The Guardian, March 2003
Kyoto Station, 2002
The Times, UK, Critics Choice, 10/7/02
Billy Connolly World Tour, BBC 1, TX 01/04/02
Metro, UK, Art Review, Lee Fenwich, 17/6/02
Awards and Commissions
2026
Longlisted for Henki and Senioritas Prizes
2025
Eaton Fund UK
2022
Shortlisted The Alpine Fellowship Visual Art Prize Prize, Italy
2021
Won the Mediterranean Contemporary Art Prize, President's Award
Won the Bath Open Prize, People's Choice Award
Finalist for the 'Airland 4.0 | Nature, Technology, Energy' Competition
Shortlisted for the Passpartout Photo Prize, Italy
Digital Art OBSERVATORY, Competition Winner, Ukraine/UK
Runner Up, The Alpine Fellowship Visual Art Prize, Sweden
2020
Shortlisted The Alpine Fellowship Visual Art Prize Prize, Italy
2019
Won, Artspace Connections, Digital Art Competition NWCDTP Research Program Award, The British School at Rome, Italy
2018
Longlisted The Chaiya Art Award, UK Hula, The University of Nottingham, Ningbo, FHSS Play Conference Commission
2011
Megablocks HQ Canada, Mega Paintings Commission
2010
Arts Council International Residency Grant, UK
2009
Cecil Sharp House Megapole Installation, London, UK
2008
Antony Gormley, The Angel of the North 10th Aniversary Commission, Baltic Gallery for Contemporary Art, Gateshead, UK
2007
Arts Council Independent Artist Grant
2006
Arts Council Independent Research Grant, Novellus Castellum 2005
Northern Film and Media, Travel Grant
2003
Arts Council International Residency Grant
2002
Arts Council Independent Artist Grant
1996
UCA (Formerly KIAD), Student Award for Painting
Education and Memberships
PHD, Lancaster University, UK, 2019-2027
PGCE, New College, Durham, UK, 2001-03
MA Fine Art, Northumbria University, Newcastle, UK, 1999-2001
BA Fine Art, University for the Creative Arts, Canterbury, UK, 1993-1996
Memberships
The British School at Rome, Italy (BSR)
British Arts Network (BAN)
Senior Fellow, Higher Education Academy (SFHEA)
Relevant Work
Visiting Art and Design Tutor, Arts University Bournemouth, UK
Gallery Ambassador, John Hansard Gallery, Southampton, UK
2022-Present
Art and Design Tutor, Winchester School of Art, UK
2014-2022
Senior Tutor, Content A (CELE) Art and Design Convener, The University of Nottingham, Ningbo, China
2012-14
BA FIne Art Lecturer/Pathway Leader, Foundation Fine Art, The British Higher School of Art and Design, Moscow, Russia
2011-12
Director of BA Fine Art, Scientific College of Design, Oman 2006-10 Freelance Artist, Baltic Gallery of Contemporary Art, Gateshead, UK
2008-10
Lecturer, Art Foundation and Interactive media, Gateshead College, UK
2006-07
Director, Novellus Castellum, Exhibition and Project Space, Newcastle, UK 20 Co-Founder, The Star and Shadow Cinama, Newcastle
2005-06
Lecturer, Tyne Metropolitan College, Newcastle, UK 2004
Visiting Lecturer MA, Northumbria University, UK Visiting Lecturer BA, Newcastle University, UK
2002-03
New Media Fellow & Lecturer, Northumbria University, UK
2001
Internship, David Nash, Wales, UK
1998-99
Internship, Kettles Yard Gallery, Cambridge, UK Work in Public Collections Johnson-Perkins has works in many private and public collections across the world