Steve Burden’s work investigates ancestry and heritage. Born in a Deptford council flat and going on to complete a degree at Goldsmiths, Burden has butted against the inherent classicism of art higher education. His most recent body of work is a response to researching his DNA and finding a link to 11th century Norman aristocracy, prompting him to think about land ownership and the birth of the class system. His work shows the thin veil between class divides, how a few centuries can move a family from castle to council estate. The work blurs the line between figuration and abstraction, the energy of application noticeable in Burden’s fluid, lyrical marks. This blending of materials mirrors his breaking of boundaries in a socially constructed hierarchy. In Burden’s work, we see a questioning of the status quo, handled with defiance and playfulness in equal measure.
Text by Kate Reeve-Edwards
Text by Kate Reeve-Edwards
SOLO EXHIBITIONS:
2024 - COUNTRY ESTATE / COUNCIL ESTATE, APT GALLERY, LONDON
2022 - BOTTOM OF THE CLASS, NO FORMAT GALLERY, DEPTFORD, LONDON
2018 - MADE FROM DEPTFORD, NO FORMAT GALLERY, DEPTFORD, LONDON
2017 - PIGS AT PEPYS, LANE HOUSE ARTS, BATH
2017 - UTOPIAN MYTHS, BLACK SWAN ARTS, FROME
2017 - PEPYS, ROPER GALLERY, BATH
2015 - PIGS MIGHT FLY, OLD STREET, LONDON
2024 - COUNTRY ESTATE / COUNCIL ESTATE, APT GALLERY, LONDON
2022 - BOTTOM OF THE CLASS, NO FORMAT GALLERY, DEPTFORD, LONDON
2018 - MADE FROM DEPTFORD, NO FORMAT GALLERY, DEPTFORD, LONDON
2017 - PIGS AT PEPYS, LANE HOUSE ARTS, BATH
2017 - UTOPIAN MYTHS, BLACK SWAN ARTS, FROME
2017 - PEPYS, ROPER GALLERY, BATH
2015 - PIGS MIGHT FLY, OLD STREET, LONDON
GROUP EXHIBITIONS:
2024 - MOONS, No.6, BRUTON, SOMERSET
2023 - PULSE, TREMENHEERE GALLERY, PENZANCE, CORNWALL
2023 - BOUNDARY CONDITIONS, GARETH GARDNER GALLERY, LONDON
2023 - BEHIND THE SCENES, TAUNTON BREWHOUSE, SOMERSET
2022- MUCH ADO, JUPITER MUSEUM, NEWLYN, CORNWALL
2022- ANOTHER SPACE WITHIN, GLENSIDE MUSEUM, BRISTOL
2022- SUMMER SHOW, EASTSIDE PROJECTS, BIRMINGHAM
2021- A SENSE OF PLACE, LANE HOUSE ARTS, HASTINGS
2021- UNREAL ESTATES, BRISTOL
2021- NO FORMAT GALLERY, LONDON
2020 - ING DISCERNING EYE, LONDON
2020 - PRESS PLAY, KOSAR CONTEMPORARY, BRISTOL
2020 - WILTSHIRE CREATIVE, SALISBURY ARTS CENTRE
2020 - 2020, CENTRESPACE GALLERY, BRISTOL
2019 - CREEKSIDE OPEN, CURATED BY SACHA CRADDOCK, APT GALLERY, LONDON
2019 - POP UP, LANE HOUSE ARTS, WILTSHIRE
2019 - PORTRAIT OF AN EGG, CURATED BY GAVIN TURK, SOMERSET HOUSE, LONDON
2019 - FIGURES & FACES, ANDELLI ART, WELLS, UK
2019 - NEXT GENERATION, ALON ZAKAIM FINE ART, LONDON
2019 - RECONSTRUCTING THE REALITY, PEYER FINE ART, ZURICH, SWITZERLAND
2018 - COME AS YOU ARE, DADIANI FINE ART, LONDON
2018 - DRAWING OPEN, NO FORMAT GALLERY, DEPTFORD, LONDON
2018 - HEART MIRROR, ART PLU, WUXI, CHINA
2018 - RECONSTRUCTING THE REALITY, D10, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
2018 - ART CAPITAL, HANGSHENG CAPITAL, HANGZHOU, CHINA
2018 - ARTPLU, MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART, SHANGHAI, CHINA
2018 - ALTERNATIVE VISIONS, POOLE MUSEUM, UK
2018 - ALTERNATIVE VISIONS, THE WILSON, CHELTENHAM, UK
2017 - PAINTING OPEN, NO FORMAT GALLERY, DEPTFORD, LONDON
2017 - ALTERNATIVE VISIONS, FALMOUTH ART GALLERY, UK
2017 - ART SHENZEN, SHENZEN CITY, CHINA
2017 - MONARCHS TO MONGRELS, THE SHEPPEY, GODNEY, UK
2017 - WILD IN THE COUNTRY, BRUTON ART FACTORY, UK
2017 - ALTERNATIVE VISIONS, BRISTOL MUSEUM AND ART GALLERY, UK
2017 - FRINGE ARTS, BATH, UK
2017 - GAVIN TURK AND FRIENDS, BRUTON ART FACTORY, UK
2017 - WAY OUT WEST, BRUTON ART FACTORY, UK
2016 - THE THAMES: THE ARTERY OF LONDON, DEVON HOUSE, LONDON
2016 - BRUT MIDWINTER, BRUTON ART FACTORY, UK
2016 - ENTOPIA, SPACE, BRISTOL, UK
2016 - BLACKSWAN ARTS, FROME, UK
2016 - FRINGE ARTS BATH, BATH CENTRAL LIBRARY, UK
2016 - OPEN CALL, CHAPEL ARTS CAFE, BATH, UK
2016 - SPACE, CORSHAM COURT, WILTSHIRE, UK
2016 - THE ARTIST BEHIND THE WORK, BATH SPA UNIVERSITY, UK
2016 - MAFIA, WALCOT CHAPEL, BATH, UK
2016 - THE ART OF BOXING, OLD STREET, LONDON
2015 - YULETIDE, 44AD, BATH, UK
2015 - OPEN CALL, CAPITAL GALLERY, LONDON
2015 - OPEN CALL, ANGUS-HUGHES, LONDON
2015 - THE BLUE SKYLINE, WUXI CITY, CHINA
2024 - MOONS, No.6, BRUTON, SOMERSET
2023 - PULSE, TREMENHEERE GALLERY, PENZANCE, CORNWALL
2023 - BOUNDARY CONDITIONS, GARETH GARDNER GALLERY, LONDON
2023 - BEHIND THE SCENES, TAUNTON BREWHOUSE, SOMERSET
2022- MUCH ADO, JUPITER MUSEUM, NEWLYN, CORNWALL
2022- ANOTHER SPACE WITHIN, GLENSIDE MUSEUM, BRISTOL
2022- SUMMER SHOW, EASTSIDE PROJECTS, BIRMINGHAM
2021- A SENSE OF PLACE, LANE HOUSE ARTS, HASTINGS
2021- UNREAL ESTATES, BRISTOL
2021- NO FORMAT GALLERY, LONDON
2020 - ING DISCERNING EYE, LONDON
2020 - PRESS PLAY, KOSAR CONTEMPORARY, BRISTOL
2020 - WILTSHIRE CREATIVE, SALISBURY ARTS CENTRE
2020 - 2020, CENTRESPACE GALLERY, BRISTOL
2019 - CREEKSIDE OPEN, CURATED BY SACHA CRADDOCK, APT GALLERY, LONDON
2019 - POP UP, LANE HOUSE ARTS, WILTSHIRE
2019 - PORTRAIT OF AN EGG, CURATED BY GAVIN TURK, SOMERSET HOUSE, LONDON
2019 - FIGURES & FACES, ANDELLI ART, WELLS, UK
2019 - NEXT GENERATION, ALON ZAKAIM FINE ART, LONDON
2019 - RECONSTRUCTING THE REALITY, PEYER FINE ART, ZURICH, SWITZERLAND
2018 - COME AS YOU ARE, DADIANI FINE ART, LONDON
2018 - DRAWING OPEN, NO FORMAT GALLERY, DEPTFORD, LONDON
2018 - HEART MIRROR, ART PLU, WUXI, CHINA
2018 - RECONSTRUCTING THE REALITY, D10, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
2018 - ART CAPITAL, HANGSHENG CAPITAL, HANGZHOU, CHINA
2018 - ARTPLU, MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART, SHANGHAI, CHINA
2018 - ALTERNATIVE VISIONS, POOLE MUSEUM, UK
2018 - ALTERNATIVE VISIONS, THE WILSON, CHELTENHAM, UK
2017 - PAINTING OPEN, NO FORMAT GALLERY, DEPTFORD, LONDON
2017 - ALTERNATIVE VISIONS, FALMOUTH ART GALLERY, UK
2017 - ART SHENZEN, SHENZEN CITY, CHINA
2017 - MONARCHS TO MONGRELS, THE SHEPPEY, GODNEY, UK
2017 - WILD IN THE COUNTRY, BRUTON ART FACTORY, UK
2017 - ALTERNATIVE VISIONS, BRISTOL MUSEUM AND ART GALLERY, UK
2017 - FRINGE ARTS, BATH, UK
2017 - GAVIN TURK AND FRIENDS, BRUTON ART FACTORY, UK
2017 - WAY OUT WEST, BRUTON ART FACTORY, UK
2016 - THE THAMES: THE ARTERY OF LONDON, DEVON HOUSE, LONDON
2016 - BRUT MIDWINTER, BRUTON ART FACTORY, UK
2016 - ENTOPIA, SPACE, BRISTOL, UK
2016 - BLACKSWAN ARTS, FROME, UK
2016 - FRINGE ARTS BATH, BATH CENTRAL LIBRARY, UK
2016 - OPEN CALL, CHAPEL ARTS CAFE, BATH, UK
2016 - SPACE, CORSHAM COURT, WILTSHIRE, UK
2016 - THE ARTIST BEHIND THE WORK, BATH SPA UNIVERSITY, UK
2016 - MAFIA, WALCOT CHAPEL, BATH, UK
2016 - THE ART OF BOXING, OLD STREET, LONDON
2015 - YULETIDE, 44AD, BATH, UK
2015 - OPEN CALL, CAPITAL GALLERY, LONDON
2015 - OPEN CALL, ANGUS-HUGHES, LONDON
2015 - THE BLUE SKYLINE, WUXI CITY, CHINA
EDUCATION:
MA FINE ART (DISTINCTION), BATH SPA UNIVERSITY
MA GRAPHIC DESIGN, LONDON COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION
DIPLOMA, EGYPTIAN ART, HARVARD
DIPLOMA, CLASSICAL HISTORY, OPEN UNIVERSITY
BA HONS (FIRST CLASS), GOLDSMITHS
MA FINE ART (DISTINCTION), BATH SPA UNIVERSITY
MA GRAPHIC DESIGN, LONDON COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION
DIPLOMA, EGYPTIAN ART, HARVARD
DIPLOMA, CLASSICAL HISTORY, OPEN UNIVERSITY
BA HONS (FIRST CLASS), GOLDSMITHS
AWARDS:
2023 - DYCP, ARTS COUNCIL ENGLAND
2022 - THE QUEENS AWARD FOR VOLUNTARY SERVICE
2022 - OPPENHEIM-JOHN DOWNES TRUST AWARD
2021 - STEP UP, OUTSIDE IN
2021 - THE EXCHANGE, EASTSIDE PROJECTS
2020 - JOHN MOORES PRIZE - SHORTLISTED
2020 - ASSOCIATE ARTIST OF BRICKS IN BRISTOL, UK
2020 - FREELANDS FOUNDATION EMERGENCY FUND
2019 - CREEKSIDE OPEN
2019 - SPIKE ISLAND SCHOLARSHIP
2019 - ZABLUDOWICZ COLLECTION - MASTERCLASS AWARD
2019 - TURPS BANANA SURGERY
2019 - AMBASSADOR - OUTSIDE IN
2018 - BLACK SWAN ARTS - JUDGE
2018 - JOHN MOORES PRIZE - SHORTLISTED
2017 - TRUSTEE BATH ARTISTS STUDIOS
2017 - AESTHETICA ART PRIZE - LONGLISTED
2017 - A-N BURSARY
2017 - ALTERNATIVE VISIONS - FINALIST
2017 - NEW BLOOD ART - MASTER
2016 - AESTHETICA ART PRIZE - LONGLISTED
2016 - BLACK SWAN ARTS - WINNER
2016 - BRUTON ART FACTORY - BRUTALIST
2016 - DEREK HILL FOUNDATION AWARD
2023 - DYCP, ARTS COUNCIL ENGLAND
2022 - THE QUEENS AWARD FOR VOLUNTARY SERVICE
2022 - OPPENHEIM-JOHN DOWNES TRUST AWARD
2021 - STEP UP, OUTSIDE IN
2021 - THE EXCHANGE, EASTSIDE PROJECTS
2020 - JOHN MOORES PRIZE - SHORTLISTED
2020 - ASSOCIATE ARTIST OF BRICKS IN BRISTOL, UK
2020 - FREELANDS FOUNDATION EMERGENCY FUND
2019 - CREEKSIDE OPEN
2019 - SPIKE ISLAND SCHOLARSHIP
2019 - ZABLUDOWICZ COLLECTION - MASTERCLASS AWARD
2019 - TURPS BANANA SURGERY
2019 - AMBASSADOR - OUTSIDE IN
2018 - BLACK SWAN ARTS - JUDGE
2018 - JOHN MOORES PRIZE - SHORTLISTED
2017 - TRUSTEE BATH ARTISTS STUDIOS
2017 - AESTHETICA ART PRIZE - LONGLISTED
2017 - A-N BURSARY
2017 - ALTERNATIVE VISIONS - FINALIST
2017 - NEW BLOOD ART - MASTER
2016 - AESTHETICA ART PRIZE - LONGLISTED
2016 - BLACK SWAN ARTS - WINNER
2016 - BRUTON ART FACTORY - BRUTALIST
2016 - DEREK HILL FOUNDATION AWARD
COMMISSIONS / COLLECTIONS:
BALTAZAR FILM
BGC PARTNERS
CITIGROUP
M ROONEY
PORTLAND
THE JACKSON FAMILY
BALTAZAR FILM
BGC PARTNERS
CITIGROUP
M ROONEY
PORTLAND
THE JACKSON FAMILY
ARTIST TALKS:
2022 - DEPTFORD GREEN SCHOOL, LONDON
2022 - NO FORMAT GALLERY, LONDON
2022 - GORDONS SCHOOL, WOKING
2021 - GORDONS SCHOOL, WOKING
2021 - SIR JOHN TALBOTS SCHOOL, SHROPSHIRE
2021 - LEIGH ACADEMY, GREENWICH, LONDON
2021 - ST MAGDALENE SCHOOL, GREENWICH, LONDON
2021 - THOMAS TALLIS SCHOOL, GREENWICH, LONDON
2021 - WORKING CLASS BRITISH ART NETWORK
2020 - BRICKS BRISTOL
2019 - ZABLUDOWICZ COLLECTION
2017 - BLACK SWAN ARTS, FROME
2017 - BRUTON ART FACTORY, BRUTON
2017 - BATH ARTIST STUDIOS, BATH
2017 - THE BLUE SCHOOL, WELLS
2016 - BATH SPA UNIVERSITY
2015 - GOLDSMITHS, UNIVERSITY OF LONDON
2015 - CITY OF BRISTOL COLLEGE
2022 - DEPTFORD GREEN SCHOOL, LONDON
2022 - NO FORMAT GALLERY, LONDON
2022 - GORDONS SCHOOL, WOKING
2021 - GORDONS SCHOOL, WOKING
2021 - SIR JOHN TALBOTS SCHOOL, SHROPSHIRE
2021 - LEIGH ACADEMY, GREENWICH, LONDON
2021 - ST MAGDALENE SCHOOL, GREENWICH, LONDON
2021 - THOMAS TALLIS SCHOOL, GREENWICH, LONDON
2021 - WORKING CLASS BRITISH ART NETWORK
2020 - BRICKS BRISTOL
2019 - ZABLUDOWICZ COLLECTION
2017 - BLACK SWAN ARTS, FROME
2017 - BRUTON ART FACTORY, BRUTON
2017 - BATH ARTIST STUDIOS, BATH
2017 - THE BLUE SCHOOL, WELLS
2016 - BATH SPA UNIVERSITY
2015 - GOLDSMITHS, UNIVERSITY OF LONDON
2015 - CITY OF BRISTOL COLLEGE
PRESS:
Eastside Projects
https://eastsideprojects.org/esp/projects/the-exchange/
Bricks Artist Talk
https://youtu.be/KBdNY9ziYs0
ARTIQ Artist of the month
https://artiq.co/art/artist-month-steve-burden/
The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2017/may/20/how-to-invest-in-art-degree-shows
Artmaze Mag
https://artmazemag.com/steve-burden/
Eastside Projects
https://eastsideprojects.org/esp/projects/the-exchange/
Bricks Artist Talk
https://youtu.be/KBdNY9ziYs0
ARTIQ Artist of the month
https://artiq.co/art/artist-month-steve-burden/
The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2017/may/20/how-to-invest-in-art-degree-shows
Artmaze Mag
https://artmazemag.com/steve-burden/