Karen Gaskill

ISEA2011

Karen Gaskill is an independent curator and researcher based in London, UK, and a Senior Lecturer in Photography and Moving Image at Sheffield Hallam University.Her curatorial practice and research work is concerned with the relationship between the development and curation of contexts, and the subsequent translation of these into exhibition structures. Her work exists in the contexts formed within such infrastructures and questions the role of the curator in evolving interdisciplinary methodologies and responsive strategies that offer new ways of working with, and presenting, art practice. Her recent PhD argued that the role of the curator is that of an active practitioner, and presented alternative structures and approaches to exhibition making that respond to the works being curated. Over the past six years Karen has worked nationally and internationally across independent venues and commercial gallery spaces, and with a broad selection of artists. Recent exhibitions include Constellations at Cornerhouse Gallery, Manchester, co-curated with Michelle Kasprzak, and the co-curation of the FutureEverything Festival 2010 arts programme. Karen is currently guest curator for a year at Somerset Art Works, developing three new public commissions for the region, due to launch in Spring 2012.