Paddy Hartley is an artist based in Berwick Upon Tweed, Northumberland, UK. Spanning a practice of over 30 years, his work has evolved from investigating the ways in which we alter and adapt our bodies both through intent or trauma, into a longstanding examination of conflict related themes. From conducting unique research into the personal stories of those subject to pioneering facial reconstruction during WW1, to examinations of the politics of remembrance, through to his most recent work responding to actions of the Russian leadership in the invasion of Ukraine. Paddy’s creative journey has evolved in both subject and in technique. From his training in ceramics he has diversified when required into assemblage, fabric, glass, digital embroidery, bio-tissue manipulation and most recently, returning to ceramic.

He has devised and delivered a series of innovative creative collaborations with, and funded by The Wellcome Trust, The National Army Museum, The Gillies Archives and The National Maritime Museum amongst others. Most recently, he was commissioned by the Swiss pharmaceutical company F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, to create a series of new ceramic works responding to the impact of healthcare on society for the company’s 125th Anniversary, culminating in a series of solo exhibitions including the Tinguely Museum Basel, Art Academy Latvia, Anatomy Museum Riga.

Paddy has exhibited in both solo and group exhibitions internationally, is widely published and his work is collected by a number of public and private collections including Museum of Arts and Design New York, Wellcome Collection, The Norwegian National Collection and the permanent collection of F.Hoffmann-La Roche AG.

Click to read Paddy’s complete C.V.

I create work which is designed primarily to engage rather than appeal, particularly the work Im currently creating. Many of the themes in my work over the years have involved difficult and challenging subject matter. Yet wherever possible and relevant, I employ sensitivity, respect, humour and a degree of catharsis in the making and the viewing of the work. To be less than true to the subject would be an injustice to the subject matter and to the viewer.
Paddy Hartley 2024

Qualifications

97 - 98 Masters Degree in Sculpture/Ceramics with Distinction. University of Wales Institute, Cardiff

90 - 93 BA Hons Degree in Sculpture/Ceramics. University of Wales Institute, Cardiff

Permanent Collections:

2023. Collection of Museum of Pacific & Oceanic Arts, Riga, Latvia

2022. Collection of Anatomy Museum, Riga, Latvia

2022. Collection of F. Hoffmann-La Roche. Riga, Latvia.

2022. Collection of F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Switzerland.

2021. The Cost of Life. 125th Anniversary commission, F Hoffmann-La Roche, Switzerland.

2016. Collection of Gordon Museum Of Pathology. London, UK.

2015. Collection of National Museum of Art, Oslo, Norway.

2009. The National Army Museum, London, UK.

2008. The Museum of Arts & Design, New York, USA.

2008. The Wellcome Collection, London. UK.

Books:

2023 Paddy Hartley at the Pharmacy Museum, University of Basel. Editiones Roche

2021 The Cost of Life. Essays by Alexander Bieri and Jonathan Steffen. Editiones Roche

2015 Of Faces and Facades. David Houston Jones & Marjorie Gehrhardt

Solo Exhibitions:

2022 Foetal Attraction. Ceramic Intervention. Riga Stradins University Anatomy Museum, Latvia.

2022 The Cost Of Life. The Art Academy of Latvia. Riga, Latvia.

2021 The Cost of Life. A perspective on health. Museum Tinguely, Basel, Switzerland.

2021 The Cost of Life ‘Intervention’. Pharmaziemuseum University of Basel, Switzerland.

2017 National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London

2017 Edit:01 Residency and Retrospective Exhibition, The Lowry, Salford.

2015 'Papaver Rhoeas' Biotissue Sculpture multi-venue exhibition

Saatchi Gallery, London, UK

Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Richmond, London, UK

Sir John Soane's Museum, London, UK

Gordon Museum of Pathology, King's College London, UK

Brunei Gallery, SOAS, London, UK

Foundling Museum, London, UK

Freud Museum, London, UK

Florence Nightingale Museum, London, UK

Alexander Fleming Laboratory Museum, London, UK

Firepower - Royal Artillery Museum, London, UK

Museum of the Order of St John, London, UK

2007 ‘Faces of Battle’ Project Facade Exhibition. National Army Museum, London, UK

2000 ‘Safe From Harm’, Year of the Artist exhibition. The Thackray Medical Museum, Leeds, UK

Group Exhibitions

2018 Armistice: Legacy of the Great War, Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery. UK.

2016 Nesta Spring 2016 Exhibition, London, UK

2015 Womens Work - Masculinity and Gender in Contemporary Fibre Art, San Diego Art Institute, USA.

2015 'Slippage - The Unstable Nature of Difference. Contemporary Art Space Chester. UK

2015 'Faces of Conflict'. Royal Albert Memorial Museum. Exeter. UK

2015 'The Needle's Eye' KODE Bergen & National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design, Oslo. Norway.

2014 'Re:Collection'. Museum of Arts and Design New York. USA

2013 'SHOWcabinet: Prosthetics'. SHOWstudio. London. UK

2013 'Gone Viral'. Marion Art Gallery, State University New York. USA

2013 'Heads, Shoulders Genes & Toes'. Museum of Fine Arts, Florida State University. USA

2013 'In Your Face' Curated by Nick Knight. SHOWstudio, London. UK

2011 'Alter Nature'. Z33, CIAP & the Fashion Museum, Hasselt, Belgium

2009 ‘Kreig Und Medizin’. Deutsches Hygiene-Museum, Dresden, Germany

2009 ‘War + Medicine’. The Wellcome Collection, London, UK

2008 ‘Pricked’: Extreme Embroidery. Museum of Arts & Design, New York, USA

2007 ‘Diagnosis Art’. Museum im Kulturspeicher, Würzburg, Germany

2007 ‘Diagnosis Art’. Kunst Ahlen Museum, Munster, Germany

2005 ‘Somatechnics’. Macquarie University Gallery, Sydney, Australia

2004 ‘Future Face’ Wellcome Trust Exhibition. The Science Museum, London, UK

2003 ‘Treat Yourself’ Wellcome Trust Exhibition. The Science Museum, London, UK

2003 ‘Digi-Monde’ Contemporary Art & Science Exhibition. Orleans House Gallery, London UK

2003 ‘Bodily Alter(c)ations’. Macquarie University Gallery, Sydney, Australia

2002 ‘Short Cuts To Beauty’. The Victoria & Albert Museum, London

2000 ‘7OVER5’. New Contemporary Art. Leeds Metropolitan Gallery, UK

2000 ‘Eden’. Contemporary Ceramic Sculpture. Radley College Gallery, Oxford. UK

2000 ‘Parade’: Leeds Contemporary Art Now. East Street Gallery, Leeds. UK

2000 ‘Formerly Known As Art’ (F,K,A,A). Contemporary Fine Art in Leeds. The Wardrobe, Leeds. UK

2000 ‘Invisible Body’. Wellcome Trust Sci-Art Collaboration. The Atrium Gallery, London, UK

Commissioned Collaborations/Projects & Residencies (selection):

2022 Foetal Attraction Ceramic intervention, Anatomy Museum, Riga Stradins University, Latvia

2021 Ceramic Intervention, Pharmaziemuseum University of Basel, Switzerland.

2021 The Cost of Life. 125th Anniversary commission, F Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Switzerland

2002/2020 Artist in Residence, Dept of Tissue Engineering & School of Dentistry, King's College London.

2017 Artist in Residence, National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London UK

2004/2007. Artist in Residence, The Gillies Archives. Queen Mary’s Hospital Sidcup, UK

Curatorial:

2022 Foetal Attraction Ceramic intervention, Anatomy Museum, Riga Stradins University, Latvia

2021 The Cost of Life. A perspective on health. Art Academy of Latvia. Riga Latvia

2021 The Cost of Life. A perspective on health. Museum Tinguely, Basel Switzerland

2021 The Cost of Life ‘Intervention’. Pharmaziemuseum University of Basel, Switzerland.

2007 Faces of Battle. National Army Museum, London. UK

2000/2010 Curator/Exhibition and events co-ordinator (50+ exhibitions). Brass Gallery, Leeds. UK

2000 Safe From Harm. The Thackray Medical Museum, Leeds. UK